Project timeline: 2026 · video publication year. Published as a retrospective on 23 October 2026.
Mundeya Ve is part of my directing work with Tia Bajpai, with Rasmus Johansen credited as associate director. What interests me in a performance-led project like this is how a person becomes present to the audience. A camera can record somebody singing without yet creating a connection to the performance.
I want my direction to make that connection more deliberate. The decision to stay close, move away or allow a gesture to finish can affect how the artist is understood. Those details may be small on their own, but they are part of whether the viewer experiences a person or simply watches a production move around them.
What the project asks of me
A performer communicates through more than the obvious moment of delivery. A change in expression, a pause between gestures or a different relationship to the camera can alter the feeling of a sequence. I want the direction to leave room for that information, so the audience can connect with a person rather than only follow a pattern of cuts.
This does not require every image to be restrained. It requires an understanding of when an image should make a statement and when it should allow the performance to speak. A video can have a strong visual identity while still giving the artist the space to remain its emotional centre.
The associate director credit is part of how the work is shared. I want a production to be able to move from a creative intention to a practical decision without losing the meaning in between. Clear communication makes it easier for different contributions to support the same piece instead of becoming separate attempts to improve it.
There is an important difference between agreement and a common understanding. People can contribute different ideas while still recognising what the project is trying to become. For me, that is a healthier foundation for collaboration than expecting everyone to bring exactly the same perspective.
When the work reaches the edit, those decisions begin to reveal their relationships. An image that seemed self-contained on the day may become a transition. A performance moment may deserve more time than expected. I want the direction to create material that can support that discovery without leaving the film without a centre.
Looking back at Mundeya Ve, I want to talk about the collaboration as well as the title. The artist and the associate director belong in that account. My ambition is to bring a clear intention to the work while leaving room for the people around me to make the project more specific.
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