Nina Danino

291 is pleased to present an evening of films by Nina Danino. This is a creative collaboration between Nina Danino and 291 Gallery to screen her films in The Main Gallery which is a converted church with a cinema size screen. Its vast dimensions and acoustics will create a new spectacular setting between the space and the films, where the audience can either watch the films through for their drama and narrative or linger through different sections of image and sound.

"Now I am yours” 32mins (1993) Bernini's famous Ecstasy of St. Teresa is transported from the Cornaro Chapel in Rome to the cavernous church of the 291 gallery, Hackney, London. The turbulent death-like throes of languishing, ecstasy and rapturous lament are evoked by the opulent images and a soundtrack which reverberates with voices and singers Diamanda Galas and Shelley Hirsch. '"Now I am yours" leads us through an unnervingly authentic 'extreme state of religious and sexual ecstasy' (LFF, Cordelia Swann)

TEMENOS 75mins (1998) Temenos means 'ritual precinct’, it is a site marked off as a sacred place. "Silently at first the viewer is lead into a stark open landscape, devoid of features and limitless in expanse. Endlessly the wind whistles through the trees, ice and snow crystallise on the ground...a bird calls but are its cries human or animal, tortured or ecstatic? In the landscape ordinary and apparently insignificant events and details of nature are picked out, a bee buzzes, the wind blows, a dog barks, a sheep calls, children play. It is still and quiet. Like the visionary we begin to perceive a heightened sensory world emerging from the ordinary familiar one. Towards the end in colour video we arrive at a documentary site a pile of stones where an archetypal woman in black and a soldier is in contemplation. This is Medjugorje where the Virgin is said to be appearing. In the film we can for an illusionary period, visit the Temenos and know it’s frightening and beautiful secrets"(Helen de Witt).The soundtrack features the extraordinary voice of Tuvan singer Sainkho, New York vocalist Shelley Hirsch and soprano Catherine Bott creating a strange and unsettling sound-world.

CD TEMENOS original film soundtrack is released by Leo Records (LEO LR303)

CD STATES with selected tracks from "Now I am yours" is released by HarvestWorks, New York (TE-C003/17997)

Nina Danino's films include Stabat Mater, widely regarded as a seminal work of the British Avant-Garde and "Now I am Yours" which was funded by Channel 4 and the Arts Council of England. Her work has been shown extensively in Europe, US, Australia and Canada. She lectures in Fine Art at Goldsmiths' College. She has collaborated with international singers and sound performers. Her feature film Temenos was shown at the London and Edinburgh Film Festivals and in cinemas in the UK and Europe.