Merlo

In Merlo (the Italian word for blackbird), Joan Jonas focuses on the perception of image and sound from various distances. In the first scene, swathed in a black gown and veil, she clambers over the rocks in a chasm. The camera is above her. She is humming a song, which she more often does in performances, through a paper cone. This paper cone is a recurring item in Jonas’ performances, but each time is used in a different way. In the following scene, Jonas is standing on a flat stretch of grass. The monotonous sound she produces is reminiscent of a howling dog. Dogs are responding by barking. In the scene that follows, Jonas is sitting on the far side of a river. She is only a tiny figure within the image. There is a strong wind, which is making the river f… Read more...