National Slap – Video (2025)
Concept and Approach
National Slap video reconstructs the Colombian national anthem from 1990s soap operas, turning slaps into musical notes and questioning national symbols.. By transforming each slap into a musical note, the video shifts acts of intimate violence into a collective soundscape. The anthem unfolds between solemnity and grotesque, exposing the fragility of national symbols and questioning their construction through media and memory.
Medium and Technique
The project is a 1-minute 4K video that combines archival footage with precise sound design to create a rhythmical audiovisual experience.
Video Production
Clips were carefully edited to emphasize the repetition and timing of slaps, turning ordinary gestures into musical units.
Sound Design
Each slap is mapped to a musical note, creating a sonic structure that mirrors the anthem while evoking tension between familiarity and estrangement.
Historical and Cultural Context
National Slap video reflects on 1990s Colombian television and the sociopolitical climate of the era, highlighting how televised narratives shape collective memory, trauma, and identity. The interplay of media, music, and visual gestures invites reflection on the excesses and everyday violence of the period.
Curatorial Relevance
The work engages curators, museum directors, and collectors with a performative exploration of national symbols and audiovisual memory. By turning a familiar anthem into a site of critical inquiry, National Slap video challenges perceptions of identity, ritual, and historical narrative.