Festen & Uncanny Valley
PHOTOGRAPHY - Vidy Theater
2019
As part of the collaboration between the CEPV Higher Education in Photography and the Théâtre de Vidy, across two half-seasons from January to November 2019, the project Festen & Uncanny Valley was created. It offers a unique perspective on the stage productions of Festen—inspired by Thomas Vinterberg’s cinematic work—and Stefan Kaegi’s Uncanny Valley. In this photographic series, the camera was used as an extension of the immersive visual and psychological experience of the dramaturgy.
'Something isn't right—in this body, these movements, or these facial expressions?'
For the presentation of Uncanny Valley, a series of photographic portraits featuring various strangers with distinct personalities and physical traits was used to create a deep sense of confusion, echoing the humanoid robot from the play. These elements trigger a psychological reaction in the viewer when faced with something that is recognized, yet not fully understood as human. This phenomenon is known as the 'Uncanny Valley'.
Regarding Festen, the use of Urbex photography allowed the audience to discover the play’s settings and scenery as an enigmatic opening to the stage, conveying a sense of unsettling unease. Indeed, consumed by time, these spaces and objects are stripped of their traditional aesthetics—symbolizing the decay of the 'perfect family' image, haunted by a dark, persistent secret. These photographs thus portray a family portrait damaged by its own ignorance and hypocrisy.
