Pink Schlemmer

In 2024, an old 16 mm print of Man and Mask: Oskar Schlemmer and the Bauhaus Stage surfaced from storage at the Goethe-Institut Toronto. The 1969 dance film is an interpretation of Oskar Schlemmer’s choreographies conceived at the Bauhaus University in Dessau around 1925. Through chemical deterioration of the aging print, the film is now awash in vibrant pink and magenta hues. Oliver Husain and his collaborators use this flamboyant tint as both clue and entry point to reimagine Schlemmer’s dances, ideas and impact.

Artist and filmmaker Oliver Husain is based in Toronto. His projects are often collaborations with other artists and friends and often begin with a fragment of history, a rumour, a personal encounter or a distant memory. He uses a wide range of cinematic languages, technical experiments and visual pleasures – such as dance, puppetry, costume and special effects – to animate his research and draw viewers into complex narrative setups.

Director Oliver Husain. Cinematography Oliver Husain. Editing Oliver Husain. Music Matt Smith. Sound Design Matt Smith. Costumes Laura Honsberger. Make-Up Tim Manolo. Animation Oliver Husain. Producer Oliver Husain. Production company Oliver Husain (Toronto, Canada). With Tanveer Alam.

Films: 2002: Q. 2005: Squiggle. 2008: Green Dolphin, Mount Shasta. 2009: Purfled Promises. 2012: Item Number. 2013: Parade. 2016: Isla Santa Maria 3D (Forum Expanded 2017). 2017: were here. 2018: French Exit. 2019: Garden of the Legend of the Golden Snail. 2021: DNCB (co-directed by Kerstin Schroedinger). 2026: Pink Schlemmer.