In this series of guest posts, Jason Garcia Ignacio, one of CityDance’s 2014–2015 OnStage Ignite Artists, talks about artwork that inspired him for the Dance and the Dream of Realities performance at the Phillips on Nov. 20. Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
Paul Signac, Place des Lices, Saint-Tropez, Opus 242, 1893. Oil on canvas, 25 3/4 x 32 1/4 in. Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh. Acquired through the generosity of the Sarah Mellon Scaife Family. Photograph © 2014 Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh
Paul Signac, Place des Lices, Saint-Tropez, Opus 242 (1893)
In a painting filled with trees, I am most drawn to the person sitting alone on a bench. I want to explore this person’s solitude. In today’s society, where time alone is a luxury, what drives a person to isolate himself?
Henri-Edmond Cross, The Swan, 1893. Oil on canvas, 18 x 10 5/8 in. Private collection, France, Courtesy Galerie de la Présidence, Paris
Henri-Edmond Cross, The Swan (1893)
I can’t help but think how excited this little girl must be as she observes the swan. One of my favorite Filipino folk dances is called “Itik-Itik”—which translates to duck. Though the dance is inspired by the movement of the duck, its endearing quality is a perfect match for ‘The Swan’. I want the audience to feel as the little girl does as she encounters this beautiful creature—bemused and enchanted.
Jason Garcia Ignacio, one of CityDance’s 2014–2015 OnStage Ignite Artists