Arkadi Zaide - Capture Practice (2014) video installation. Photographs by Alipio Padilla and Arkadi Zaides 

Capture Practice 


In 2013, Arkadi Zaides requested access to the video archives of B'Tselem - the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights In The Occupied Territories. Among other things, the archives contain thousands of hours of footage documented by Palestinian volunteers within the framework of the organization's "Camera Project". Zaides chose to focus on the Israelis captured on screen, on their bodies and the way they respond to various situations in the West Bank. The results of his confrontation with these materials are presented in two works: 'Capture Practice' - a video installation, and 'Archive' - a stage performance. 

The video installation 'Capture Practice' comprises two synchronized video channels broadcasting simultaneously in a loop on two walls that are of human height, thus creating an intimate architectural space. On the right wall, Zaides is filmed within a closed and windowless studio, and on the left, there is a series of clips from the archives. With his gaze continuously facing the left screen, Zaides extracts the movements of the documented subjects, and through the medium of his body ties together the occurrences on both screens. Using a never-ending kinetic practice, Zaides wishes to examine the somatic influence of the occupation on the bodies of those administering it, while raising questions about his own involvement in the act. Although the Palestinian side remains behind the camera, the volunteers' movements, voices, and perspectives are present, and they dictate the viewing perspective.

CREDITS

Concept & Video Installation
Arkadi Zaides

Archive materials (left screen): volunteers for the "Camera Project" of B'Tselem – The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories
Ahmad Jundiyeh
Issa ‘Amro
Abd al-Karim J'abri
Abu ‘Ayesha
Raed Abu Ermeileh
Iman Sufan
Mu'ataz Sufan
Mustafa Elkam
Oren Yakobovich


Videography (right screed)
Amir Borenstein

Video consultant
Effi ana Amir (Effi Weiss and Amir Borenstein)

Artistic advisor
Katerina Bakatsaki

Commissioned by
Petach Tikva Museum Of Art 

Firstly presented as part of ‘Set In Motion’ exhibition at the Petach Tikva Museum Of Art curated by Drorit Gur Arie and Avi Feldman

Distribution
Something Great