human undoing

human undoing premiered as part of Gauthier's Seven Deadly Sins program in 2022, portraying "sloth."

For Aszure Barton, it is not pride or greed that tops the list of sins, but indolence—a vice that might seem to harm only the person concerned. She views other sins as additives or external impositions that stem from selfish motivation, but considers sloth fundamentally different. To her, sloth represents the sacred being drained from human existence—a spiritual depletion that manifests as complete emptiness and lack of purpose. This emptiness expresses itself physically, leaving individuals disconnected and directionless.

Barton's concept draws on broader interpretations of acedia as weariness, disgust with life, and even depression.

Despite the work's weightiness and sense of being dragged down, Barton infuses her piece with humor. To explore this emptiness, she employs a form of multitasking that deploys the body on several levels simultaneously.

Photo courtesy of Gauthier Dance