Alice, Bob, Carol and David

Alice, Bob, Carol and David by Viktor Timofeev is an interdisciplinary work combining film, gaming, and performance into a unique choreographic system. Using the Unity game engine, the installation presents four characters – named after cryptographic placeholders – engaged in a loop of improvised, interdependent movements. Inspired by Yvonne Rainer’s generative scores from the 1960s, their repetitive, everyday actions synthesise chance and structure, reflecting control, autonomy and emotional resonance.

A virtual overhead camera observes these characters, with their movements annotated in real time. This analytical lens underscores a paradox: while bound by specific rules, no action is ever wholly repeated, illustrating the tension between logic and generative creativity. Silent yet expressive, their interactions unfold as a live theatre production within a dynamic digital stage, where game mechanics and environmental props play pivotal roles.

Voiceovers by close collaborators, including filmmaker Kenneth Jacobs and Timofeev’s father, add a deeply personal dimension, amplifying the themes of identity, belonging and shared experience. Composer Miša Skalskis’ score heightens the installation’s introspective tone.

At its core, the work examines the human desire for connection amidst constraint. Timofeev’s role as creator echoes the intricate dance of control and catharsis, inviting audiences to engage with the delicate balance between abstraction and intimacy. The result is a mesmerising, multi-layered piece that resonates far beyond its digital origins.

– Eva Langerak

Trailer

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