Platters of decadent cheeses, meats, fruits, and nuts all fill the table. Adjacent, a bartender fills the wine glass of an elegant women, who is sagittally bisected and painted blue. A full-sized tent rests at the bottom of an empty pool, concealing its contents from prying eyes. But the real focus of the night is the art of Shlomo Tuvia and Momentum, the immersive experience that Infilmity Productions has created to celebrate this occasion.

Friends and family of Tuvia, along with a limited number of press and public, gathered in the backyard of an affluent house nestled mere blocks from Miracle Mile. Numerous easels displayed Tuvia’s art, which depicted faces full of emotion. But to understand his art, we must first understand Tuvia’s story.

 

Infilmity Productions | Momentum

 

Tuvia was born in 1958 and identifies as a Neo Expressionist, an art style that portrays the human body in rough, violently emotional ways with an emphasis on vivid colors. Born to parents who were both deaf and mute, his family needed art to express themselves, to share thoughts, and to connect. It was this unique experience that allowed Tuvia to embark on the path of true expression and become an artist.

Tonight, we would join him on his path, and connect to each other using his art as inspiration.

Those who volunteered to partake in Infilmity Productions’ Momentum (demarked by a yellow wrist band) were assigned to a team and given three to four of Tuvia’s artwork to recreate. This was not a simple exercise in colored pencils and oil paints though; instead, each painting led to a bin full of opulent fabrics, sea shells, moss, palatial jewelry, mirrored shards—and yes, even body paint. Participants were encouraged to use poster boards as backdrops, with makeup and paint to transform guests into the evocative subjects of the paintings. However, if a team was unable or unwilling to become the subject of painting, the poster sufficed as a suitable alternative.

Infilmity Productions | Momentum

 

On the surface, Momentum – full of food, drinks and laughter – was a carefully planned arts-and-crafts night celebrating art and allowing guests to express their own creativity with help and love from Infilmity. But the experience went deeper than that— for the participating guests, they were mirroring the footsteps of Tuvia, creating a connection with him through his art, and immersing themselves in the emotions behind it.  It is in this creative connectivity that the event truly excelled.

While Momentum appears to be Infilmity Production’s one-time love letter to a singular artist, this kind of appreciative work can extend beyond this event and incorporate the recreations of other artists’ works. It could make for a classier and far more engaging version of a “painting with wine” evening. A future event could allow for the entire audience to participate, rather than only a select few creating while others watched, allowing for a more cohesive and participatory atmosphere.

 

 

Infilmity Productions and Momentum proved that the actors in experiential theater can be 2D and made of paint immersed in the backdrop of a canvas. This experience honored the artistic journey of Shlomo Tuvia, apparent in the care and love for this project. I hope to see more events like this in the future, allowing for continued artistic connection, creative participation, and the celebration of an artist and their work.

Click here for more info on Shlomo Tuvia and here for Infilmity Productions.

Infilmity Productions Review