Scores on a cold ground 1,2,3
(2024)
Inspired by the jumps executed during the women’s free programs at the Beijing 2022 Olympics and displayed at Billytown in The Hague, the piece features three miniature ice rinks and a series of notational scores derived from these Olympic performances. By translating the physical movements of skaters into a musical score, the work transforms something inherently non-musical into a playable composition.
The piece critically examines the intense, often hostile nature of high-performance sports like Olympic figure skating, questioning whether there is truly any "freedom" in the so-called free programs. Focusing on the precise moment when a skate blade cuts into the ice—creating a sharp scratch on its surface—the artwork emphasizes the meticulous calculation and pressure underlying the sport. In doing so, it brings attention to the immense psychological and physical strain athletes endure, framing the act of skating not just as an athletic feat but as a form of calculated precision under extreme stress.
Scores sourced from the jumps at women’s free programmes during Beijing 2022 Olympics. Gold, silver and bronze; set of three miniature rinks in the miniature size of the original competition figure skating rink. Creating scores out of the placements of landing of the jumps. Supporting the first part of the installation, where the scores were written from the moment when the blade cuts through the ice into a musical composition score.
part of ‘meander’ @ billytown Jan 2024
pictures ,2,3,4 by Hannah Schleifer