Dervish 9

2004

digital video

projection

12’ x 16’

Inspired by the ritual practiced by the Semazens of the Mevlevi sect of Islam, otherwise known as Whirling Dervishes, the branches of the tree in this digital animation twirl and contort in both harmony and disorder. In reference to the four sections of both vocal and instrumental compositions in this dancing ceremony, Steinkamp’s tree cycles through four different seasons, recognizable in the changing colors of the leaves in the projection. There is a rhythmic routine to the organic movement of the branches as they wind, unwind, and repeat, reminiscent of the rhythms of a prayer-induced trance. Heaving breaths of life and death, this artwork implies a level of sentience in trees that is both enchanting in its spirituality, and grounded by the tree’s restricting roots.

Using digital media to depict an iconic feature of nature speaks to the projection of computer-based aesthetics on modern-day life. This tree’s material being, a digital piece projected with light onto physical space, emphasizes the juxtaposition of advanced technology and the timelessness of earth.

Together, the animation and its site reframe a whimsical depiction of nature in a contemporary context. The textures of the tree create the illusion of realism and depth, and the absence of a background allows for a multifarious visualization of the space it may exist in. This caters to the imagination of a viewer, who may even feel encouraged to sway and twirl alongside the tree, reveling in the qualities of the earth that bind us all.

-Kaylee Ryan