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For June, we will be looking at “Notes on Gesture” by Giorgio Agamben. This particular text is available in english via two different publications, Infancy and History (1993) and Means Without End (2000). It was originally written in 1992. It begins, “[by] the end of the nineteenth century, the Western bourgeoisie had definitely lost its gestures.” This idea of was taken up by our former programmer Kika Thorne, and used as a cur…atorial frame or theme for many of the works we showed at VIVO during her time at the centre. The text takes in the physiological studies of human motion done by Gilles de la Tourette, in parallel with early cinematographic experiments being conducted by Marey and Muybridge. It speaks of the cinematic project within the context of recuperation and loss. It attempts to make distinctions between gesture and image, as well as ethics and aesthetics, with respect to their relationship to the cinema. The text is useful to us as a means to potentially discuss previous works exhibited at VIVO, as well as a means to approach the idea of “old forms”–the return to the antiquated that forms the thematic for the upcoming edition of the Signal + Noise Media Arts Festival.
Giorgio Agamben is an Italian philosopher/cultural theorist. He has written extensively on sovereignty, biopolitics, the state of emergency, monasticism, language and history. He draws from a diverse set of figures and histories including Aristotle, the Roman Empire, Robert Walser, St. Francis, Walter Benjamin, Aby Warburg, and medieval Gypsies.
VIVO is located in the homelands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples in a warehouse space at 2625 Kaslo Street south of East Broadway at the end of E 10th. Transit line 9 stops at Kaslo Street on Broadway. From the bus stop, the path is paved, curbless, and on a slight decline. The closest skytrain station is Renfrew Station, which is three blocks south-east of VIVO and has an elevator. From there, the path is paved, curbless, and on a slight incline. There is parking available at VIVO, including wheelchair access parking. There is a bike rack at the entrance. The front entrance leads indoors to a set of 7 stairs to the lobby.
A wheelchair ramp is located at the west side of the main entrance. The ramp has two runs: the first run is 20 feet long, and the second run is 26 feet. The ramp is 60 inches wide. The slope is 1:12. The ramp itself is concrete and has handrails on both sides. There is an outward swinging door (34 inch width) at the top of the ramp leading to a vestibule. A second outward swinging door (33 inch width) opens into the exhibition space. Buzzers and intercoms are located at both doors to notify staff during regular office hours or events to unlock the doors. Once unlocked, visitors can use automatic operators to open the doors.
There are two all-gender washrooms. One has a stall and is not wheelchair accessible. The other is a single room with a urinal and is wheelchair accessible: the door is 33 inches wide and inward swinging, without automation. The toilet has 11 inch clearance on the left side and a handrail.
To reach the bathrooms from the studio, exit through the double doors and proceed straight through the lobby and down the hall . Turn left, and the two bathrooms will be on your right side. The closest one has a stall and is not wheelchair accessible. The far bathroom is accessible.
Alex has been involved with VIVO for several years, in many capacities, including video restoration, installation, distribution, and various programming endeavours. He also programs experimental radio for Soundscapes on CFRO. He has a degree in film studies and comparative literature from the University of Alberta.