Still from a split-screen video. On the left: a close-up of hairy skin with a finger pressing into a small red circular mark or bruise. On the right: a close-up of a person with long disheveled hair pressing their finger into a light aqua-green polygonal sculpture.
Brody Condon Zeigarnik Effect, 2015. Still from video documentation.

About the work

A series of role-playing sessions facilitated by the artist, who was embodied by a sentient sculptural ‘entity’. The temporary fictional world revolves around what the early 20th century Berlin-based psychology researcher Bluma Zeigarnik described as intrusive thoughts about an objective that was once pursued and left incomplete. The event was analogue live-streamed to the nearby biennial opening, and installed later as single channel video installation.

Documentation

Still from a split-screen video. On the left: a close-up of a person lying down with a hand on their torso, appearing to be in deep concentration or pain. On the right: a person sitting on the floor in a room corner under a window, looking up at the ceiling.
Still from video documentation.
Still from a split-screen video. On the left: a close-up of flesh being suctioned into acupuncture cups. On the right: a person sitting cross-legged on the floor, looking down while touching their left ear.
Still from video documentation.
A bulbous polygonal sculpture made of greenish-aqua patterned facets stands on a polished concrete floor against a black wall.
Brody Condon Zeigarnik Effect (polygonal sculpture prop). Installation view at Momentum 8: The Nordic Biennial of Contemporary Art, 2015.
A photograph of a tattered white card with black printed text and blue semi-indecipherable handwritten notes. The printed text reads: 'Invertebrates. Jellyfish, and huge snails. Someone else playing her in dream. Others moving her as she describes it. Being crushed. Overwhelmed. Then Re-birth. Vocal work.' At the bottom, a handwritten note says: 'I WISH THEM GOOD, GOOD I WILL THEM.' A photograph of a tattered white card with black printed text and blue semi-indecipherable handwritten notes. The printed text reads: 'Be Geometry. Geometric Movement. Exaggerate. Describe Skin. Be Skin. Skin linked to Kristoffer. Dream of Brother. Running after Brother with Broken Neck. Become brother with broken neck.' At the bottom, handwritten notes appear to say: 'Peter Knee 10min' and 'Afraid of M'.
Sample of prompt cards used in game, 2015.
PA photograph shows a dark room with a shiny marble or concrete floor. A black bench sits in front of a floor-to-ceiling projection displaying a split-screen video. The video features close-ups of hands, faces, and limbs.
Brody Condon Zeigarnik Effect, 2015. Installation view at Momentum 8: The Nordic Biennial of Contemporary Art, 2015.

Film documentation

Brody Condon, Ziegarnik Effect, 2015 — Video documentation excerpt, 03:32 mins.

Credits

Concept & design

  • Brody Condon — Artist & Game Designer

Film documentation

  • Brody Condon — Editor

Commissioned by

  • Momentum 8: The Nordic Biennial of Contemporary Art

Project details

Year
2015
Type
Performance / Roleplay / Video document
Duration
2 days
Players
8 players
Location
Moss, Norway
Support
Momentum 8: The Nordic Biennial of Contemporary Art.
Status
Documentation available for purchase, screening, and loan. Contact info@brody.work

Exhibition history

  • 2015 Zeigarnik Effect — Performance & Exhibition Two-day perfomance, live stream and installation, Momentum 8: The Nordic Biennial of Contemporary Art, Moss Norway