Pyramid

Pyramid is a single screen work on Abraham Maslow’s theory on the hierarchy of human needs filmed through the rhythms and choreography of middle class South England. Filmed in color and b&w on 16mm film, it continues Salmon’s interest in the performance of the collection/artists/cinematographer within both spontaneous and constructed situations and incorporates methods developed by various movements within documentary and avant-garde history. Using an array of sounds, music and conversation as well as silence, Salmon constructs an abstract documentary which both develops and challenges the themes presented in Maslow’s theory as well as her own interest in human iconography, stereotype and domestic rhythm. The image of Maslow’s pyramid and his pragmatic dissection of human needs and possible motivations provide a system of organization for the family and a philosophical framework for the video.Based on a theory of Human Motivation by AH Maslow17 minutes, sound, colour and black and white 16mm film (reversal and negative) on HDCamera/Direction/Edit: Margaret SalmonProducers: Dino Wiand & Margaret SalmonVoice-over: Philomena Salmon-WiandSound: Philomena Salmon-WiandAdditional Sound: Margaret Salmon, Ben CockingSocial Actors: Emily Guille-Marrett, Ben Cocking, Arlo and Alban CockingImprovised Rhythms: Emily Guille-Marrett, Ben CockingAdditional songs: Interval Signal by Maddalena Fagandini and Suite for Violin and Piano: Andantino by Raymond Scott