Your History with Me: The Films of Penny Siopis

The "concentrationary" concept in Siopis's films serves as a lens to explore historical trauma and memory. It highlights the destruction of the human within the human, focusing on processes of dehumanization and violence. Siopis uses this concept to examine legacies of apartheid, colonialism, and Christianity, as seen in films like "Communion" and "The New Parthenon." These works reflect on historical events, such as the murder of a nun in South Africa and the impact of Greek diasporic histories, by intertwining them with themes of transubstantiation and the "incompossible." Siopis's approach underscores the complexity of historical memory, emphasizing the need for critical consciousness and artistic resistance to these oppressive legacies.

Penny Siopis's work navigates the complexities of diaspora, displacement, and cultural identity through her exploration of personal and collective histories, often rooted in her Greek heritage. Her films, such as "My Lovely Day" and "The New Parthenon," delve into her family's migration experiences, highlighting the struggles and resilience of diasporic communities. By using found footage and text, Siopis recontextualizes historical events, making them relevant to contemporary experiences of displacement and cultural identity. She also incorporates elements of Greek mythology and music, emphasizing the enduring influence of her cultural background. Siopis's work encourages viewers to consider the fluidity of identity and the interconnectedness of global narratives, challenging traditional notions of belonging and origin.

Penny Siopis's use of found footage and archival materials in her films is significant as it allows her to engage with history and memory in a unique and critical manner. By utilizing discarded, anonymous home movies and old cinema reels, Siopis recontextualizes and reimagines narratives around gender, migration, and diaspora. This approach has several implications:

1. Decolonization of Voice: Siopis draws on the filmed forms of others, giving formal embodiment to the complex temporalities and valences of 'your history with me,' rather than foregrounding her own camera-I. This decentralizes the narrative and allows for a more inclusive and diverse representation of histories.

2. Historical and Material Exploration: The use of found footage and archival materials enables Siopis to delve into the materiality of the past, revealing the traces and residues of historical events and their impact on the present. This approach highlights the interconnectedness of history, memory, and materiality.

3. Challenging Narrative Conventions: Siopis's films often disrupt linear narratives and conventional storytelling, encouraging viewers to engage with the materiality of the images and the gaps in the archive. This challenges the authority of historical narratives and encourages a more reflexive engagement with history.

4. Encouraging Active Participation: Siopis's films invite viewers to make associations, inferences, and echoes, allowing for a more active and participatory engagement with the material. This encourages a reimagining of history and memory that is not solely dependent on the authoritative voice of the archive.

In summary, Siopis's use of found footage and archival materials is a powerful tool for critiquing and reimagining history and memory, encouraging a more inclusive, reflexive, and participatory engagement with the past.

Penny Siopis's work engages with contemporary issues through a multifaceted approach that intertwines personal narratives with broader socio-political themes. Her films, such as "She Breathes Water," address climate change by depicting the octopus as a symbol of the environment's resilience and vulnerability, critiquing human exploitation and the anthropocentric view of nature. This reflects the urgent need for environmental awareness and action in the face of ecological crises.

In "Shadow Shame Again," Siopis tackles gender-based violence by using the voice of a woman who responded to a tragic event with a song. This highlights the experiences of survivors and the societal silence surrounding such violence. Her work reveals the systemic nature of gender-based violence and the importance of empathy and transformation.

Siopis's films also reflect on the political landscape, as seen in "The Master Is Drowning," which explores the legacy of apartheid through the assassination of Hendrik Verwoerd. This underscores the ongoing impact of historical events on the present and the need for reckoning with the past.

Overall, Siopis's work reveals a world characterized by interconnectedness, vulnerability, and the need for critical engagement with complex issues. It highlights the importance of reimagining human relationships with each other and the environment, emphasizing the potential for change and transformation in the face of adversity.