Virgin Seed
Experimental movie
Collaboration with Pari Banu Asgar in the frame of the “NoBorderland” residency, Georgia, 2022
Mother’s manifesto:
I gave birth to you, but no one told me who you would be, or who you would want to be. No one taught me how to protect you.
I have to teach you how to survive in this society. Should I become a part of this society to give you a lesson? Or should we go to a desert island so that you won't have any reason to hate me when you grow up? Should I put you in an aquarium to hide your fragile body from all predatory fish, which will evaluate you and place you according to their standards?
Compassion does not come without pain. Empathy is mistakes that have become lessons. I want to be your friend.
But society tells me that I should be your borderland. If you get lost, I have to find you, if you make a mistake, I have to justify you. Or punish.
They say I have to teach you how to survive. But I want to teach you how to love. Love that does not bring pain, love that forgives everything and accepts everyone.
(c) Salomeya Bauer
Medusa Gorgon
Performance in the frame of residence “Laboratory 2/20”, Batumi, Georgia, 2020
This project was created as part of a 10-days residency. During this time, I painted a triptych about life and death of Gorgon Medusa and made this collaborative performance. I gave a new dimension to a well-known myth, starting from the idea that Medusa was never a monster. She became a victim of envy and violence of the ancient gods only because of her natural beauty and wisdom. In modern society, a woman is still subject to criticism, condemnation and even violence if she tries to do something outside the role that society allocates to her. I dedicated this work to all the women of modern Georgia, whose names history does not remember. To all those who have experienced domestic violence and were able to return to a normal life. Although their life will not become the basis of a myth, for me it is a feat.
Liza under the influence
Documentary drama, 46 min, HD, 2017
Neo-Orthodox «Neo-Christmas». Liza, friends call her Madonna, is an attractive beast, stuck in an obsessive dream of becoming an actress. Meanwhile she is pregnant. She is outside of ethical issues: «Thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal» is not about her. Liza frankly shares her social-disapproved thoughts through the camera: she is sorry that she had not done an abortion and now the baby is going to crush her just-started career. Liza desperately longs for a chance to fall into temptation. And there is nobody wise and mature who can symbolize God for her. Her father is like a serpent, who tempts her to live only for herself. Her mother is already living that way. Zhenya, father of the child, is ready to do everything for Liza and hopes that they still can form a family. But Liza is under the influence so far.
This story is very personal for me. When I started to shoot it, my child was six months old and I think I understood all the chaos, that was inside Liza’s mind. You think, that life is falling apart and you don’t belong to yourself anymore. And you are not aware of the future. How to bring your just started career back? That movie is about a woman at the edge, whose life will never be the same. I think, many women strivings to fulfill their professional ambitions will recognize themselves in Liza. And people will be able to see how powerfully the birth of a child can change a woman’s life.
Fugue
Fiction, 17 min, 4K, 2017
The composer is searching for a musical theme. He is haunted by a fugue. Disconnected from reality, he embarks on a journey to create a musical composition. Meanwhile, his family loses hope that he will return home.
Dancer
Documentary, 35 min, HD, Georgia, 2014
The film "Mocekvave" ("Dancer") tells us the story of three generations of Georgian national dancers, starting with a second generation refugee boy from Abkhazia, and ending with the world famous choreographer, Revaz Chokhonelidze.