Tessa Power’s films’ draw on personal encounters, anecdotes and historical myths to investigate how we shape our own realities.
She stages real events in diverse landscapes for characters played by non-actors and animals. Often filming people who live in remote areas such as the Scottish Highlands, she creates oblique narratives imagining alternative existences in marginal worlds. The extensive research and process of engaging with her chosen subjects from the real world is key, whether it’s a deerstalker, stunt horse or Pharaoh Hound, their personal behaviours and histories feed into the non-linear narrative of the film.
She transforms her subjects through hand made costumes, props, body paint and special effects, collaborating with them to occupy this alternative reality. This process dismantles strategies of cinematic imagery with the aim of exposing the construction of these images and ideologies. She deliberately reveals staging within the films to engage audiences, simultaneously seducing viewers whilst reminding them of the composition of each frame. The resultant beautiful, haunting, yet absurd films reflect how identity is fabricated and our sense of self is socially and culturally compiled.