"The Prisoner", Jiva Parthipan




I work as a performance artist and a live artist. So I was excited when Marc asked me to be part of the project. Previously I used to be a dancer and am in good physical form.

When Marc suggested the stress positions, I knew it will be hard but I am pretty used to endurance based work. I thought that my body will take it for about 15 minutes before it gives in. So I was surprised that after about 6 minutes (which was already with much difficulty) that I will be squatting involuntarily with out being able to get up unless somebody helped me out of it

Then I will have a short break, de-hoodded, stretch and repeat it all over again. The more I did the less time I was able to do it. With the mask and standing on a rickety box already dislocates the balance. I thought I will fall off the box on my face. But I was lucky. I knew I could stop any time I wanted to. Also the people around me were very supportive and kind. I knew what was going to happen after the film shoot(meet friends) and definitely knew where I was.

It bears not thinking what it will be like if you were in those positions for much longer, in an undisclosed location and not knowing what was going to happen next!!!