Crossings was a live-streamed performance event staged from the Westgate Punt ferry as part of the 2019 MAP Festival. The performance featured dancer Jonathan Sinatra, with Myfanwy Hunter collaborating as a videographer responding to the site, environment, and movement of the ferry.
Set against the stark industrial backdrop of the Westgate Bridge and the tidal rhythms of the lower Yarra River, the work explored themes of transition, balance, and the body’s negotiation of unstable spaces. The performance was accompanied by an evocative pre-recorded audio track titled Slow Ferry Crossing by Perth artist Solar Cell Kid, which underscored the work with a slow, meditative soundscape.
Myfanwy and Jonathan moved in dialogue with the ferry’s swaying momentum, the surrounding river sounds, and the tension between human presence and the working river environment. The live-stream extended this site-specific encounter beyond the physical location, inviting remote audiences into a space of gentle dislocation and embodied listening. Crossings embodied MAP Festival’s commitment to experimental, location-responsive artistic practice.
Dancer ~ Jonathan Sinatra
Videography ~ Myfanwy Hunter
Sound credit ~ Solar Cell Kid ‘Slow Ferry Crossing’
With thanks to Westgate Punt Skippers - Fletcher, Dave, and owner Rob.