MAPA DENTAL premiered at the 13th edition of the Márgenes festival in Madrid, winner of the Jury Award at the 34th Onion City Experimental Film Festival and part of the official section of Abycine 2024, Goya Awards selector.
Mapa Dental is my second short film. It begins by presenting all the information that teeth can reveal about a person in an expository way.
However, as it progresses, it takes on a more abstract form, positioning teeth as the source of various cognitive dissonances. Through bites on the piece and mouth sounds reminiscent of ASMR, the teeth gradually integrate into the narrative, creating a unique sensory experience.
By manipulating the footage, the film approaches cognitive dissonance in a peculiar way, much like Naomi Uman does in her work by exploring the physical manipulation of film material.
Inspired by artists like Carolee Schneemann and Sandra Lahire, I see the physical intervention in media as a powerful formal device. In MAPA DENTAL this approach is realized through biting and scanning the film material, using my own teeth to erode the image and build a visceral connection between body and narrative.
There are no two dentures alike, all human beings have one composed of 32 teeth. Each of these small porcelain pieces holds information about each being, such as his or her identity. In addition, they can be our greatest enemy when it comes to storing the past, present and future, creating cognitive dissonance in the process.
