Individuals who have experienced gender dysphoria have been brought here as “specimens” to be “helped” by allowing them to travel through a portal into another multiverse where their gender presentation is in line with their gender identity. A holographic “game facilitator”, in the tradition of live action role-playing (LARP), explains that these individuals are “unique and fascinating specimens”, and that the Institute is offering a change that they can “accept or refuse... in an informed way”. The implication of the language used in this scene recalls the relation and false choice inherent in user agreements developed between social platforms and their user base. In exchange for data created, the platform retains the right to use the information gleaned to ostensibly improve the user’s experience. The Institute is also situated as a part of the medical apparatus of the state that seeks to cure ills, calling into question what “help” actually means and to what ends it strives.
Text from The Place of Gender by Joel Kuennen, Prototypes, Commissioned by Edith Russ Haus for Media Art, Published by Sternberg Press 2018.
Prototype II, Commissioned by Dublin City Gallery, The Hugh Lane Gallery. Supported by The Arts Council of Ireland, Next Generation Award.
Written, Directed & Produced by Doireann O’Malley
Featuring Nika Fontaine, Matejá Hoffmann,
Pol Merchan, Nika Pecarina, Ashley Hans Scheirl,
Elena Schmidt & Rhyannon Styles.
Director of the Institute Co-writer of the games:
Jamie Mc Donald, Psycho-analyst: Michaela Wunsch
Assistant: Elliott Cennetoglu
Extras: Lou Drago, Ray Kovalevsky, Pedro Marun,
Kristian Madsen, Zander Porter, Brody Polinksy
Adel Onodi, Henri Steeg, Leni Wronkowitz
Assistant Director: Divina Kuan
Director of Photography: Albrecht von Grünhagen
Sound Design/Composition: Armin Lorenz Gerold
Production co-ordinator: Jake Flowers
Art Director & Costume Design: Ran Chai Barzvi
Camera Operator: Matan Radin
Sound recording: Manuela Schininà & Manja Ebert
Editing: Gines Olivaros & Doireann O’Malley
Sound Editing: Doireann O’Malley
3D Animation: Brody Condon & Doireann
O’Malley 3D Scanning: Olaf Blecker
Sound Mix: Jochen Jezussek
Colour Grading: Delfina Mayer
© 2023 Doireann O´Malley