Air to Atmosphere, 2023 — David Rosetzky 2.0

Air to Atmosphere
2023

David Rosetzky, Air to Atmosphere is an interdisciplinary project made in collaboration with members of the LGBTQIA+ community on Dja Dja Wurrung Country in Central Victoria, commissioned by Castlemaine Art Museum.

Stemming from a series of in-depth conversations Rosetzky initiated with participants, the project unfolds through photography, video, choreography, performance, songwriting, poetry, publishing and social encounter – exploring the diversity, trauma, resilience, and pride of the local LGBTQIA+ community.

Renowned for his multi-disciplinary and collaborative practice, Rosetzky slowly and gently sought out LGBTQIA+ artists, writers, lyricists and performers in a region known for its predominance of both practicing artists and LGBTQIA+ community. What is clear is that the LGBTQIA+ community is made up of myriad individuals, who may or may not identify as ‘a community’. Stepping forward to work with Rosetzky, even in such an open region, takes courage and confidence. Meanwhile, throughout the making of this work, a trickle of press reports continues to identify violence and stigma experienced by LGBTQIA+ people across regional and rural Australia.

True collaboration is a key aspect of Rosetzky’s work―not just in the forming of content and meaning but also in the crafted execution of the work―a practice that is perhaps more akin to filmmaking than traditional art.

Air to Atmosphere features Paul Allen, Colin Cameron, Aimee Chapman, Sherene Clow, Rhett D’Costa, Lz Dunn, Harley Dunolly-Lee, Aloyziouz Falcon, Sky Falcon, Stephen Goldsmith, Terence Jaensch, Mitch Nivalis, Casey Rice, Anna Schwann, Alison Shirley, Phillip Siggins, Eden Swan, Louise Terry, Chris Wheat, Paul Williams and Ocean Wolff, all of whom worked with Rosetzky to embody their stories.

In the video Air to Atmosphere, participants go about their everyday lives, talk to camera and perform choreographed movements devised by Jo Lloyd to a song written by local music collective &so and shot on the streets of Castlemaine. Lyrics from &so’s original song ‘Deep Kissing Under Siege’ were drawn from the participants’ interviews, as well as sections from a sonnet by Terence Jaensch, thus reflecting the cross-pollination that occurred throughout the project.

Rosetzky’s still portraits document collaborations via the camera. In the accompanying exhibition publication these portraits are presented alongside interview excerpts that represent different aspects of each participant’s identity, thoughts, opinions and selves. These excerpts form street posters pasted up in the gallery and around Castlemaine.

Rosetzky turns his prodigious skill and deep intuition towards what might be considered a documentary enquiry with a creative outcome. And herein lies his remarkable achievement, to weaken the seemingly stark distinction between art and documentary.

- Naomi Cass

Video Credits:
Cast: Aimee Chapman, Rhett D’Costa, Terence Jaensch, Mitch Nivalis, Casey Rice,
Eden Swan, Louise Terra
Cinematographer: Simon Walsh
Producer: Eyvonne Carfora
Choreography: Jo Lloyd
Video editing: James Wright
Steadicam operator: Lisa Cushing
1st camera assistants: Lisa Cushing, Thomas Formosa-Doyle
2nd camera assistant: Jake Missett
Colour grading: Peter Hatzipavlis, Final Grade
Audio edit and mix: Duane Morrison
Sound recordists: Hayden Guildford, Boris Borokhov
Production assistants: Briele Hanson, Ruiqi Qui
Locations: Theatre Royal Castlemaine; various sites on Dja Dja Wurrung Country
Additional cast: Leanne Hill, Nick Hill, Shelly Lawler, Lainie Sutton, Lil Waters, Carrie Webster, Marion (Maz) Williams, Charles Young