VIDEO PREMIERE | Ilithios, "Is This Our Dance"

Introducing — Ilithios; photographed by Andréa Defelice.

In the throes of our global quarantine, artists of various mediums and media svengalis have been keeping the threads of communication moving forward. We live in a time where the conveniences of accustomed normalcy have been paused in a necessary interruption of regular services and routines in the name of slowing a global pandemic. Introduced through visual artist/photographer Jen Meller, we discovered the raw, vulnerable and personal pop aesthetic of Ilithios, presenting the world premiere of the visual for "Is This Our Dance". The performance nom de plume of Brooklyn artist Manny Nomikos, the dancing by myself trope is witnessed in earnest by way of fancy footwork witnessed under apartment lock-down conditions.

Ilithios questions the state of our current quagmire with a piece of performance art that inquires about what visceral movements define us as a human body collective/network. “Is This Our Dance” captures stir-crazy styles of new American primitivism and captures it in reverse. Nomikos’ command of heavy electric chords creates a cautionary sense of seriousness with visual moves that springs forth like a bonfire ritual performed in a desolate destination (performed in otherwise normal conditions in social groups of fellow revelers and the like). Ilithios orchestrates a dance for our times, a bit of soft shoe for our social distancing practices that conveys a kind of primal emotive suppression that rages with a latent desire to break forth from the domicile cage of confinement. Ilithios illustrates a globally relatable angst that will not be assuaged or appeased with a panacea until the threat and emergency of this pestilence has been contained and conquered with shelter-in-place orders lifted.

Honda Passport poses with Ilithios; photographed by Andréa Defelice.

Ilithios’s own Manny Nomikos provided us with some creative evolution trajectories and privy notes from his solitary domain:

Is inspired by the sense of uncertainty we’re facing as many of us wait to see what our futures will be like after the current global pandemic. For me the feeling is very familiar since my family in Greece had been financially devastated after the economic collapse in 2009. In between the moments of devastation and panic, there were times of comfort and calm. At a certain point, you accept your fate and then you can embrace spontaneity and chaos. The witch is coming home. We only know that our immediate futures have been altered but what comes after is a mystery.

In the video, I wanted to visualize a clumsy embrace of spontaneity and chaos through improvised dance. I danced to the song in reverse so when viewed, it starts with physical exhaustion but by the end of the video, there is more energy and balance.

I find that dancing and moving without thought and plan brings a release that is especially important when facing circumstances outside of our control. There are times you fall or become disoriented, or lose your glasses and the only thing you can do is try to continue with as much grace as you can muster.

Ilithios will be releasing his debut LP in the spring and will play live shows once we are all out and about again.

Fields of wonder with Ilithios; photographed by Andréa Defelice.