Leap: A Headfirst Dive into Water, 2025
two-video channels, two-sound channels, color, loop, 26’44’’
Sound Design by Leonardo Guerra 
Photographed by Zoe Tempest

Kunstipendium der Stadt Zurich, Helmhaus, Zurich, CH


“Leap: A Headfirst Dive into Water, by Francisca Patrocínio consists of two superimposed video loops that, true to the title, show the process of learning a headfirst dive above and below the water’s surface: from the first attempt to repeated failure to gradual learning.

The artist takes on the personal challenge of jumping headfirst into the water and, in doing so, reflects on the relationship between the human body and water. The work examines cultural, social, and individual influences that influence the personal relationship to water

The mirrored perspective above and below the waterline creates a visual field of tension that addresses transitions between the familiar and the unknown. Filmed in a public swimming pool, the work also refers to collective body practices, urban bathing culture, and society’s interaction with water.”, - exhibition text by Silvan Benz, Cristiana Contu, and Viviane Mathis.