״Avi’s video dance touches on our vulnerability and our shared need for connection and humanity. He began creating Put That Away and Talk to Me during an emotional night in Kasol, a small town in northern India, following an overwhelming feeling of loneliness that had left him emotionally paralyzed. Through movement, he managed to release himself from that painful state, and the idea for the piece was born. Each time he arrived at a new destination during his journey in India and experienced emotional turmoil or distress, he performed the same movement sequence as a way to reconnect with himself and with the place around him. Avi is documented dancing the sequence many times, and each environment imbues the filmed segment with the uniqueness and authenticity of its people and surroundings. When he returned to Israel, he had accumulated ninety takes from different locations, which he carefully and sensitively edited into the remarkable final work presented at the top of the page.

The choreography Avi created symbolizes the song’s message — a call to remove digital distractions and the internal noise of intrusive thoughts and self-criticism in order to deepen genuine emotional connection with oneself and with others. His work serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of being present, engaged, and open to the world around us — only then can we discover a shared rhythm that unites us all. The piece reveals dance’s extraordinary ability to communicate emotion and meaning, demonstrating its potential to bridge divides, foster empathy within the global community, and function as both a remedy for inner turmoil and a tool for building intercultural connections. Watching the film evokes a profound sense of uplift and reinforces the significance of the message behind it.״

Cinematography, Direction & Editing, Performer :
Avi Mazliah

Music:
James Blake

Article by:
Shahaf Dekel

2017