Stefana Fratila
2020. Three-channel video, single-channel audio.
Symbolizing the invisibility of non-apparent disability, Fratila’s body does not appear in the piece. Instead, video projections of a bathtub filling with water are accompanied by purple lighting and sounds. Alongside this, another video displays a Twitter feed related to the artist’s experiences with chronic illness. Fratila describes how this ambient experience “highlights the inherently uneasy borders between disability, ritual and self-restorative actions.”
Video of Portrait of the Young (Crip) Artist at Bathtime with open captions
Video of Portrait of the Young (Crip) Artist at Bathtime with audio description
Video of young crip artist’s Twitter feed
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Video of young crip artist’s Twitter feed with audio description
Still Images from the Video Projection
Written Image Description:
In this film still, a purple light casts over the corner of a bathtub. To the left of the bathtub is a vanity. Various medication bottles line the back of the vanity to the right of the sink. On the corner of the vanity there is a blue plate with a lit tealight candle, a lighter, and towels. On the ledge behind the bathtub sits a glowing salt lamp, a lit candle, and other small treasures, as well as an illuminated iPhone. Above the ledge, two vines fall down against the tiled wall. The captions read, “Water pouring into bathtub.”
Written Image Description:
In this film still, a purple light casts over the corner of a bathtub. To the left of the bathtub is a vanity. Various medication bottles line the back of the vanity to the right of the sink. On the corner of the vanity there is a blue plate with a lit tealight candle, a lighter, and towels. On the ledge behind the bathtub sits a glowing salt lamp, a lit candle, and other small treasures. The iPhone is no longer illuminated, and the bathtub is more full than the previous image. Above the ledge, two vines fall down against the tiled wall. The captions read, “Overflow drain swallowing water.”
Written Image Description:
Gallery view of Portrait of the Young (Crip) Artist at Bathtime. A person wearing a checkered sweater standing in front of two side-by-side video stills projected on a white wall in a darkened room. The still on the left depicts a purple light cast over the corner of a bathtub. To the left of the bathtub is a vanity. Various medication bottles line the back of the vanity to the right of the sink. On the corner of the vanity there is a blue plate with a lit tealight candle, a lighter, and towels. On the ledge behind the bathtub sits a glowing salt lamp, a lit candle, and other small treasures, as well as an illuminated iPhone. Above the ledge, two vines fall down against the tiled wall. The captions read, “Water pouring into bathtub.” The still on the right depicts a purple light cast over a white shelf with various items scattered on it, including an iPhone, a candle, and a notebook. The captions read, “Water pouring into bathtub.”
Written Image Description:
The Twitter page of user, young crip artist. Their user name is @pain_waves and their bio reads, “taking a bath.” Tweets displayed on the page include: “eating churros in bed,” “there’s nothing like the relief of waking up to find your pain dropped from an 8 to a 5,” and “the width of a piano key was designed with men’s hand sizes in mind.”
#CripRitual 