Curator Talk: Digital Production of Mountain Spirits
This behind-the-scenes conversation explores the digital production of Mountain Spirits: Rice and Indigeneity in the Northern Luzon Highlands, Philippines, an exhibition that immerses audiences in the sacred landscapes and living traditions of the Ifugao rice terraces.
Featuring Amy Landau and Paul Connor, the online program examines the research, filming, and on-site processes that shaped the exhibition’s digital components. From early ideation to working in the mountainous terrain of the Philippines, they will reflect on their approach to documenting a living cultural landscape grounded in ritual, labor, and environmental stewardship. Through images, clips, and personal reflections, exhibition co-curator Amy Landau and Paul Connor will discuss how digital media can translate embodied, place-based knowledge into an exhibition experience. The conversation will address the practical and ethical dimensions of filming, collaboration with local communities, and the challenges of capturing atmosphere and spirituality on screen. They will also share how raw footage and research were transformed into the final 9 projector, 7 speaker, and 4 screen video installation, offering insight into the creative decisions behind bringing Mountain Spirits to life in digital form.