The work was notably performed at The Chocolate Factory Theater in Long Island City in 2014.
Background Materials is a hybrid event that combines two of Samama’s previous performance pieces into a single narrative arc: Core Material Action & Meaning The concrete wall
The piece highlights sensory data that usually goes unnoticed—what Samama calls "background noise"—precisely because these elements are what anchor us to reality. michal_samama_-_background_materials (Original)...
is an evening-length performance piece by choreographer and performer Michal Samama that explores the temporal and spatial aspects of bodily experience. This "deep guide" breaks down the work’s philosophical foundations, its core components, and the unique artistic language Samama employs to turn the periphery of our daily existence into a focused performance event. 1. Conceptual Foundation: The "Background Noise" of Life
Explores the "mute surroundings" of a space. The performer interacts with the architecture to highlight its elusiveness. Plastic trash bags The work was notably performed at The Chocolate
The performance emphasizes the literal feel of materials—the squeak of plastic against skin or the friction of a body against a white brick wall. 4. Historical Context & Performance Sites
Samama often morphs into the materials she uses. For example, she may use her fingers like "fishhooks" to distort her face into a snout, blurring the line between human and animal/object. This "deep guide" breaks down the work’s philosophical
Reviewers from the New York Times and footage from Vimeo describe several defining features of the work: