Moetivi Caravan / Expedition to Home is the name of a new project, which is being prepared by the authors and protagonists Dominika Špalková and Bára Ungerová under the banner of the ProFitArt production platform. As part of an expedition to the essence of what makes a home a home, they set out on a journey to Iceland. In Norway and Iceland, two more versions of the production are being created in parallel, by Norwegian and Icelandic artists these days they arrived for a residential stay with us, in the Czech Republic.
The author’s audiovisual project by Dominika Špalková and Bára Ungerová for families with children will take place in a specially adapted caravan, which is also an art installation. The authors are looking for an answer to the question of what a home is and what belongs to it. In their research, they set out on a journey that leads far from their homes – to Iceland.
During the twenty-day expedition, which Dominika Špalková and Bára Ungerová completed together with Lucie Dlabolová, the authors of the concept and protagonists got acquainted with the local project partners, the Handbendi theater studio led by actress and director Greta Clough, and began together with three Icelandic performers to work on the topic of the project.
The artists spent the first phase of the expedition in a mandatory five-day quarantine, thanks to which they were able to get acquainted with everyday objects in Icelandic households and learn about local history and tradition from family albums. The group could then rehearse at Greta Clough’s studio in Hvamstangi. As part of learning about the meaning and tradition of motifs, the Czechs visited the Museum of Textiles with a tour of historical materials and textures of handicrafts or the open-air museum of preserved historic houses.
“After returning to the studio, we focused on intensive teambuilding and continued to work together on the project. We prepared a movement warm-up for Icelandic partners and Bára Ungerová introduced the theme of motifs, which we want to use in a theatrical performance. Together we composed handmade kaleidoscopes and developed the theme of patterns, image refraction, imagination, image transformation and the possibility of using kaleidoscopes in our individual productions,”describes Dominika Špalková.
The joint work continued with storytelling tests, during which the group dealt with the topic of the ideal home. “Overall, the expedition was a very intense artistic and human experience. We learned how Icelanders work closely with nature and the elements. We exchanged our professional and creative experiences and worked intensively on the development of a joint project,”sums up Špalková and Ungerová the expedition, the next part of which is currently taking place in the Czech Republic.
Three Icelandic performers, together with director Greta Clough and two Norwegian artists, are currently spending time in the village of Lubná, where an already purchased theater caravan is currently located. During the twenty days spent with the Czech team, they will further explore the essence of what makes a home a home. During the first days, in addition to rehearsals in Lubná, they will also visit Litomyšl and the local White Gallery or go on a trip to the village of Kozlov. Light designer Jiří Šmirk, who will collaborate on the Czech production, will also join the rehearsals. During the next week, the group will move to Hradec Králové for a few days and the artists will spend the last days in Prague, where a rich cultural program is prepared for them.
The project will continue with an expedition to Norway and the Czech premiere of the Moetivi Caravan / Expedition to Home project is planned for May next year.
Collaborating project partners:
ProFitArt (Czech Republic), Arctic Culture Lab (NO), Handbendi (ISL)
Project participants:
Czech Republic: Dominika Špalková, Bára Ungerová, Jiří Šmirk
Norway: Andreas Hoffmann, Tobias Vik, Truls Hannemyr (Teater Avvik)
Iceland: Greta Clough, Snaedis Lilja Ingadottir, Sigridur Asta Olgeirsdottir,
Sigurdur Arent Jonsson
The project is supported by the EEA Funds (www.fondyehp.cz / www.eeagrants.org) – Culture Program (https://www.eeagrants.cz/cs/programy/kultura).