Julio Torres, Martine Gutierrez Present“Marina” At Whitney Biennial

(MENAFN- USA Art News) A new theatrical work titled“Marina,” a collaboration between Julio Torres and Martine Gutierrez, premiered last week at Manhattan's Little Island. The performance is part of the 2026 Whitney Biennial program and offers a satirical take on technology rather than a fearful one.

On Thursday, August 26, attendees arrived at The Amph, Little Island's outdoor amphitheater. The stage depicted a vaguely apocalyptic underwater scene featuring a wooden dock, video screens displaying wave patterns, and coral outcroppings adorned with debris like rubber-tire bits. A character in a burgundy pinstripe suit silently mouthed into a payphone on the dock.

The narrative, delivered by Tim Bendernagel as a narrator and detective, reveals a parasitic trio residing in the Gowanus Canal 's murky waters: Marina (played by Gutierrez), her overprotective older sister, and an anglerfish named Nano. They sustain themselves by accumulating trash to fortify their shells. Their stagnant existence is disrupted when a distracted construction worker, speaking to his AI girlfriend on the dock, drops his smartphone into the water. Nano then asks,“Is this a rectangle?”

Drawn by the device, Marina enters a digital world of endless scrolling and highlight reels, where influencers promote the idea that a woman's self-worth depends on male validation. The plot draws inspiration from classic tales of scorned women, including Homer's Odyssey, Euripides's Medea, and the 2009 film“ Jennifer's Body.”

Marina initially attempts to find validation by posting a selfie on OkCupid. When she receives no matches, she adopts an alter-ego, mimicking Ariel from Disney's 1989 film“ The Little Mermaid.” This persona attracts suitors like Jared, a“man of faith” who claims to be 6'5 and a CEO but states he“will not be tasked with the emotional labor of dealing with your trauma.” Upon realizing they have been catfished, the aggressive suitors face Marina's homicidal rage, and their Apple Watches and motorcycle jackets are absorbed into her growing junkyard. River L. Ramirez plays Mound, Marina's sister, in the production.

Meanwhile, the pinstriped detective, perpetually tied to a payphone, investigates the disappearance of“fuckboys” below. She enlists Dino, a garbageman, to go undercover, promising to“make it worth your while, but not by a lot, I'm solving this case on spec.” Dino finds Marina appealing, describing her as having large claws, being“kinky,” and having no interest in deodorant. Marina's challenge then becomes to establish her own identity. This piece premiered as part of a major biennial, an important event in the American art world.

Source: Hyperallergic

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