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Frederike Pezold «The New Embodied Sign Language»
Frederike Pezold, «The New Embodied Sign Language», 1977
© Frederike Pezold
Japanese in style and fitted with Tatami mats, this is the presentation room for twelve 10-minute videotapes presented under the title 'Die neue leibhaftige Zeichensprache – The New Embodied Sign Language' at the 'documenta 6', Kassel, in 1977.


 Frederike Pezold
«The New Embodied Sign Language»

The female figure has been diversely represented via monitors in Friederike Pezold’s work. The videotapes of the series «The New Embodied Sign Language», with an individual runtime of some 10 minutes, are looped infinitely, the painting – expanded to include the dimension of movement – radiates tranquillity and concentration. The single image is composed to suit the monitor frame, the sequence of images directed as a slow rhythm. The movements of the individual, contrastily stylized parts of the body deliberately evoke the stylistic devices of Japanese aesthetics. The female body is reproduced not as a projection surface for voyeuristic eyes, but as a sign. The Body Art films have been transposed into sculptures with names such as «Madame Cucumatz» or «Göttin Körpertempel» («Godess Body Temple»).