In the new documentary from The Creators Project, acclaimed artist Marcel Dzama opens up about his sculptures, videos, drawings, and costume designs for the New York City Ballet's Art Series and production of Hans Christian Andersen's The Most Incredible Thing.
The 42-year-old native of Winnipeg, who is the only visual artist to-date whose work has been featured in both the Art Series and live production, worked with music composed by The National's Bryce Dessner, NYCB Resident Choreographer Justin Peck and a cast of more than 50 performers to create a stunning multimedia spectacle of sights, sounds, and movement.
In the video, available on their official website, talks about his own inspiration and thought process around The Most Beautiful Thing, including his admiration of chess-loving Marcel Duchamp and finding inspiration from recycled toys:
"With Bryce [Dresser] I was able listen to the music, while I was making the work -- so it really felt inspiring.
"With the medium of ballet. you get this intimacy that you don't get from digital technology, and I think we wanted to keep this work feeling like it was handmade. I tried to mix the two worlds of the promenade space and the actual ballet, so I did some sculptures.
"And there are these two Nadelman sculptures...when I first came in it felt like a chess board to me -- seeing it from above with the square floors.
"So I based the whole concept of the show here as a chess game between a red side and a blue side, and there is a video on either side of a chess [match] between Amy Sedaris and Jason Griswell."
The Most Incredible Thing runs through Friday, February 19. Click here for more information.
