An inside look at how a collective of artists synchronized their individual practices to activate a shared, immersive space.
By Shienka Martinez
On February 13, a group of six sophomores — Zahra El Ansary, Noam Di Giulio, Milo Piovano, Nicole Polak, Joana Liu, and Ebba Shim — enveloped audience members in the dystopian world of “Amnion.” Along with guest performers Sofia Saab and Audra Lee Dobiesz, they explored the boundaries between nature and technology through projection, audio, and live performance. In the conversation below, the artists share the inspirations behind the show’s themes and the process of collaborating over the last year.
What inspired you all to put this show together, especially with such a large group?
Noam Di Giulio: It was kind of a happy accident. Last year, we all went together to see the first- and second-year MFA show. We took the bus together, and we were really inspired by the installations and the work there. After that, we talked about doing a Frame show together. When this year came around and we actually started organizing it, we brought together the people who had been part of those earlier conversations. We also all really respect each other’s practices, which made the collaboration feel right.
How did you choose the show’s title, “Amnion”?
Noam: The installation started with the idea of abstracting a bird’s nest, which expanded into imagery of eggs and fetuses. The title comes from the Greek root of the word “amniotic,” referencing amniotic fluid. It connects to ideas of birth and enclosure, but also something visceral and textural, a little strange physically. We felt it captured the feeling of the installation without fully explaining it.
Why did you decide to incorporate performance art? Is it mainly performance, or are there other elements too?
Joana Liu: A lot of our individual practices already involve interactivity or installation in some form. We saw this as an opportunity to layer those different approaches and experiences together into something more immersive and collaborative.
Milo Piovano: It’s definitely a mix. Because we’re building much of it and creating the environment, constructing and activating the space itself is performative.
Since it’s such a collective installation, instead of asking about a favorite piece, is there a part of the show you’re especially excited about?
Joana: I’d say the live music performances that respond to the visuals. There’s also a section in the back annex where the core performance happens, involving very tangible, sticky materials. I think that part will be especially interesting to see play out.
Nicole Polak: I’m also excited about how much the space itself changes and how different it looks compared to how it usually looks for other shows.
What else do you want people to know?
Ebba Shim: We’ve been working very intuitively throughout this whole process, getting to know each other better and understanding ourselves as artists. The performance aspect connects to that ongoing learning, working with time and materials, and responding to the space. We’re really transforming the area we were given to create something new. The birth of the work we are making is like the birth of ourselves as young artists at Carnegie Mellon.
Shienka Martinez is a junior pursuing a BFA in the School of Art.