Behind the Vertical

Janet Biggs, 2005
Video and photography installation at Hermès flagship store in New York City

Janet Biggs' Hermès video installation project, Behind the Vertical, looks at love, loss, and the performance of youth.

The realization that youth is bound by societal constraints compels some to immerse themselves in an obsessive search for perfection and transcendence. By making the athletes strenuous activities seem effortless, Behind the Vertical reveals the effort that goes into the appearance of youthful ease. The vaulter, and swimmer’s, hyper stylized movements, facial expressions and costumes expose the masquerade or performance of youth. What we see and what we know is challenged by images of flying swimmers and gravity defying horse back riders. New equations of beauty and strength, age and desire, control and release are created.

While the piece exposes the performance of youth, it is also a love song to those making the effort. It is a recognition that release and transcendence is in the effort itself.

Behind the Vertical was produced by Hermès of Paris.