Hold That Pose features ballet dancers from the Vienna State Ballet smiling into the camera for as long as they can; the video ends as soon as their smile fades. The poised stage smile is removed from its usual context and, after a few minutes, begins to appear unusually strained and fragile. It points to the emotional discipline required not only in ballet, but in a wide range of social and professional settings — on the stage of everyday interaction.
The smile becomes a symbol of emotional labor (Arlie Hochschild) and the pressure to maintain outward composure despite inner tension.
Presented life-sized, on vertically oriented screens, the work creates a direct face-to-face encounter between viewers and performers.

Performers: Helen Clare Kinney, Jackson Carroll
Hair and Make-Up: Parnia Sarraf
Technical Assistance: Andreas Westerlin Hatt

exhibition views: Artist Statement - Parallel Vienna

Hold That Pose (Helen Clare)
video (16:04 minutes) link

2025
1920 x 1080 px

Hold That Pose (Jackson)
video (19:06 minutes) link

2025
1920 x 1080 px