diana shpungin / nicole engelmann

smack. 2002
still from continuous loop dvd
dimensions variable

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In Smack two women are suspended in the perpetual action of an infinite bitch smacking session. Face to face they reflect one another’s simultaneous gestures. The accelerated speed causes the dramatic movements to become blurred, while creating the illusion that the figures are conjoined. In this overly dramatic confrontation, heads are forcefully smacked back and forth, while hair flies in all directions. This apparently aggressive action transcends into a formal composition. The mechanical motions of the women are paired with the buzzing electrical audio, creating a repetitive vibration. Lack of a distinct narrative structure is achieved by the use of the continuous loop.