Sketches of Emotion is a multidisciplinary performance that explores, blurs, and redefines the boundary between dance and visual art. In this performance, I collaborate with the Liège-based choreographer and dancer Justine Copette. Movement, energy, and emotion serve as the starting point: the body functions as the primary vehicle of expression, while the visual image emerges as a direct, visual echo of it.
In the first part of the performance, the physical and emotional intensity of the dance provides the impetus for my actions as a visual artist. The energy emanating from Justine’s movements translates into spontaneous, intuitive visual responses. The drawings are created in a matter of seconds, in order to capture the raw power, dynamism, and intensity of the moment.
During the second part, this relationship shifts. I create a large artwork live on the wall, while Justine follows and embodies my lines and movements. Image and movement become intertwined; lines become movements, movements become lines. The roles mirror each other and influence one another.
In the third and final part, all forms of hierarchy disappear. There is no longer a leading role: dance and image emerge from a shared energy and a collective focus on the moment. A large-scale artwork takes shape on the floor, fueled by the immediate energy of the event, in which the dancer’s movements and traces are an integral part of the work. These traces are made visible by applying pastel powder to the surface beforehand. Just as with the Abstract Expressionists, the surface no longer functions as a support, but as an arena in which the action takes center stage. Chance plays an essential role here. Every movement, touch, and reaction contributes to the final result. The work is not a predetermined image, but a record of energy, time, and encounter.
