Perspective is everything. That said, a split curation at the Center for Contemporary Arts leaves a trail that, if not bipolar, is at least unparallel. As part of the Manipulated Image series, coordinator Alysse Stepanian joins forces with Brazilian artist Kika Nicolela in selecting video shorts for Absence II Presence, a film screening in which selections of pre-existing work are chosen based on the curators’ interpretation of “absence and presence.”

In total, the two curators selected videos—most of which are under five minutes in length—by 19 artists from six different countries. From there, the similarities end. According to Stepanian, “The way I approached the subject matter is living a conscious as opposed to an absent life. Nicolela’s approach involves the artist himself being present or absent from the frame.” While Stepanian focuses on looking behind “surface value,” Nicolela looks behind the camera. Additionally, all of Nicolela’s selections come from Brazil, while Stepanian takes credit for the selections from the other five countries. “It’s very valuable to see what’s going on as far as video in Brazil,” Stepanian tells SFR, “but also the variety of approaches to experimental video” in other countries. It’s also valuable to see where two varying viewpoints can take one event.


Where: CCA
Phone: 505-982-1338
Address: 1050 Old Pecos Trail
Website: http://www.ccasantafe.org