LILE KHAJAVI WITH DYLAN CHOPE
“GUSTAVA LUGOSI”
LANEWAY CAFE, WENTWORTH BUILDING (2025)
Lile khajavi, Gustava Lugosi Film Stills (Shot two), 2024, photograph. Image courtesy of the artist.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Gustava Lugosi is a series of manifestos externalised in the form of a short film within an absurdist framework. The work aims to distinguish what is within from what is without regarding artist Lile Khajavi’s manifested artistic self-image as a goose.
Consumed by the idea of sense being separated from self, the artist in question takes the form of an ontological metaphor to paint a portrait of themselves as a mere medium from a high angle viewpoint, holding a balloon, covered in feathers, eating what appears to be breadcrumbs.
Gustava Lugosi is a series of musts. It is an endless chase. It is a series of images.
It is a single manifesto. It is a play on shadows. It is one persona manifested in two.
Dylan Chope, currently studying at The Conservatorium of Music, has composed pieces in response to each image. Reminded of 20th century German Expressionist film, Chope leaned into a gothic mood when creating these pieces.
Chope notes that the first three pieces use heavily affected and multi-layered flute, the middle three use flute and trombone, and the last three use trombone only. The fifth and sixth pieces feature a particular compositional puzzle called a Crab canon, in which the lead melody and accompaniment are the same material but in opposite directions, much like the fifth and sixth photos. This is then reprised for the outro.
Please join this artistic conversation by listening to the audio files below.
Further information about Khajavi’s work can be found at her Instagram at @lilekhajavi. Further information about Chope’s work can be found at his Instagram at @dylanchobe and Youtube channel.
AUDIO
Gustava Lugosi Film Stills (Shot one)
Gustava Lugosi Film Stills (Shot two)
Gustava Lugosi Film Stills (Shot three)
Gustava Lugosi Film Stills (Shot four)
Gustava Lugosi Film Stills (Shot five)
Gustava Lugosi Film Stills (Shot six)
Gustava Lugosi Film Stills (Shot seven)
Gustava Lugosi Film Stills (Shot eight)
Verge Projects is a platform that aims to strengthen the University of Sydney community and networks through on-campus art activations. Verge Projects delivers community engaged projects led by and in collaboration with student and student groups. Stepping outside of art faculties and spaces, this program encourages inclusive and creative experiences campus wide.