Experiencing Interruptions?

Hysteria

Official Selection | Tirana International Film Festival (AL)
Official Selection | Sao Carlos Videodance Festival (BR)
Outdoors large-scale projection | PROBE festival, TCD (IE)
Gallery installation | Science Gallery Dublin | Nov. 2015-Feb. 2016 (IE)

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DOES THE BODY RECORD AND REPLAY THE TRAUMAS OF THE PAST?

'Hysteria' is a physical performance for-the-camera which responds to imagery, sensation, and ideas around the invisibility of psychological pain, and the visible manifestations of trauma.
Created by Maurice Kelliher and performed by dancer Daniel Whiley (Punchdrunk, Sweetshop Revolution)—Hysteria also integrates archive footage of patients from Netley Hospital (1917) who present with symptoms PTSD—or as it was referred to then, "combat hysteria", "war neurosis", or more commonly, "Shell shock".
The film communicates, viscerally, a distress which is beyond language.

Note on the creative starting point:
'Hysteria — as a disease, and later, a set of symptoms — was characterised by unusual physical behaviours believed to be brought on by trauma or a disorder of the nervous system.
Psychoanalysis had its origins in the study of hysteria: Freud was able to explain that the physical manifestations of hysteria were not a result of nerves or disorders in the physical body. Instead, symptoms were brought on by mental trauma. Freud was among the first to assert that hysteria happens in the mind.'
— Description of 'hysteria' (the "medical condition") from the Wellcome Collection

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Press/feedback

"A multidimensional masterpiece. This work gives physicality to the lamentations of trauma. It is the jewel of the exhibition (on trauma)."
—Andrea Bandelli | CEO Science Gallery International

"Visually impactful...The rawness of traumatic stress is rendered as choreography—intimate, dreamful, and hypnotizing"
—Science (magazine)

"The most compelling experience of the TRAUMA exhibition for many of our visitors"
—Lynn Scarff | Director | Science Gallery Dublin

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www.mauricekelliher.com

  • Maurice Kelliher
    Director
    See: https://mauricekelliher.com/
  • Daniel Whiley
    Dancer / performer
    Punchdrunk; Rambert: Sweetshop Revolution
  • Tadhg Conway
    Camera operator
    See: https://vimeo.com/yellowfurze
  • Maurice Kelliher
    Editor
  • Maurice Kelliher
    Sound design
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Other
  • Genres:
    video art, dance, performance
  • Runtime:
    10 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    August 1, 2016
  • Production Budget:
    3,800 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    Ireland
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Tirana International Film Festival 2017
    Tirana
    Albania
    November 3, 2017
    Balkan premiere
    TBC
  • São Carlos Videodance Festival
    São Carlos
    Brazil
    August 18, 2016
    South American premiere
    N/A
  • Centro Universitário Maria Antonia
    São Paulo
    Brazil
    August 16, 2017
    N/A. Info: Programmed by invitation, from August-October 2017. Installed in gallery space, for public view daily.
  • PROBE Festival
    Dublin
    Ireland
    September 30, 2016
    N/A. Info: Programmed by invitation. Projected outdoors over entire, historic, building at Trinity College Dublin
  • 'Trauma' exhibition | Science Gallery Dublin
    Dublin
    Ireland
    European premiere
    Commissioned by the gallery, to explore theme of 'trauma'. 'Hysteria' was installed in the gallery for 3 months, for public viewing. Audio was streamed to the viewers own phone/device.
Director Biography - Maurice Kelliher

London born artist Maurice Kelliher is a performance maker with a background in theatre/acting/performance and contemporary dance. He trained as a dancer and choreographer —having also previously worked/trained as an actor/performer. Since 2010 he has focussed solely on making work—working across dance theatre, audio, and video.

He holds a BA (Hons) Dance from Trinity Laban, London (2007). In 2012, As a part of an international mentorship programme, Maurice was mentored for six-months of by Kirsten Dehlholm - the award-winning artistic director of international performance laboratory Hotel Pro Forma (Denmark).

Maurice’s practice has been supported by: The Arts Council (IE); Dublin City Council/The LAB; Galway City Arts Office; Dublin Fringe Festival; Dance Ireland; Science Gallery, and Dance on the Radio/Arts Council England.

His work has been described critically as "provocative", "moving", "compelling", and "stunning" - and it has been programmed and commissioned for exhibitions, festivals, and venues including: Laban theatre (London); Dublin Fringe Festival (2010, 2011, 2014); Project Brand New; Science Gallery Dublin; Official selection São Carlos Videodance Festival; Festival of Curiosity; Live Collision International Festival; and Centro Universitário Maria Antonia, São Paulo. In 2011 his work was nominated for the Spirit of the (Dublin) Fringe Commissioning Award.

In 2015 Maurice was commissioned by Science Gallery Dublin to create a video work for their 2015/2016 exhibition TRAUMA.

In March 2017, after responding to a call for proposals that answer the question—'what can dance on the radio be?—Maurice's response, 'Lost Broadcasts', won a Dance on the Radio funding award; curated by Claire Hicks and Laura Sweeney—and supported by the Arts Council England.

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