Melvin Moti's 'On a Clear Day': An Animated Opera of Illness and Sovereignty

Melvin Moti's animated film 'On a Clear Day' (2023) visualizes the illness experience of his partner M., who has lived with transplanted lungs for nine years. The film features three frogs that embody disease, sovereignty, and the shared experience of illness between the artist and his partner. Moti, known for his multidisciplinary practice referencing history and jazz, composed the electronic, classical, and jazz score himself. The work draws its title from Agnes Martin's 1973 series of minimalist prints, which Moti references through grid imagery. The animation follows the frogs through breathing exercises, prayer, dance, and eventual dissolution into empty space, accompanied by a chorus of voices and free jazz. Moti's shift to animation was partly practical, allowing him to work in hospital settings. The film explores themes of breath, belonging, and the poetic potential of disabled bodies.