In light of ongoing violence by governments and police forces around the world against civilians, including recent global BLM protests, we would like to make use of both the iconic uniforms and the characterizing body language of riot police officers as a means of contemplation. By presenting them in different surroundings than their usual representation, we seek to allow the audience, who may not be the occasional demonstration attendees, to feel the frightening sense of power they arouse in a close encounter. With the use of optical illusion, choreography, and sound design, we intend to enhance this experience and, within a 15 minutes time-frame, to guide the audience through an extreme range of contradicting emotions.
We would like to build a hexagonal shaped room, with its sides covered by mirror panels, creating an infinity mirror room. Inside, there will be five-six performers dressed in riot police uniform, who will be moving in choreographed unison, and whose reflection in the infinity mirrors will assemble an endless army that surrounds the audience. The sound work, video projection, and motion of the performers will increasingly evolve, slowly building tension until finally peaking to a climax. At this pinnacle point, they will suddenly throw themselves into each other's arms and transpose into dancing a romantic waltz or slow dance, as the sound shifts into playing a familiar romantic song.