Chisato Ohno, Simon Ellis + Jackie Shemesh | Pause. Listen

I have worked with Simon Ellis on various dance and film projects and he invited me to record Pause.Listen a work he choreographed for dancer Chisato Ohno with lighting designer Jackie Schemesh.

I photographed and documented the work performed at The Place using three camera’s set at different heights. The performance shifts and adapts to the environment each time it is presented.

This particular piece was pivotal for me filmmaker, as it was one of the first times I had noticed the work truly evolve as I watched it twice through, as both audience member and then from behind the lens. The listening became more difficult once I tried to capture the ephemerality of the work through the lens, framing it didn’t seem quite right, as the work really filled the room.

Perhaps it wasn’t meant for camera. Not meant to be recorded and condenses into a series of frames, but meant only for the moment to pause and listen with the performer, in the moment.