Englisch
‘With the Performance Club we try to think what would a truly collective performance practice look like which does not usually fit in neatly with the individualistic mindset of a lot of art practices, careers and institutions.’
Op 3 juli komt de Performance Club naar De Thomas. Performance is de rode draad in dit multidisciplinaire artistieke onderzoek, binnen en buiten het lichaam, de tijd en de ruimte. De artiesten communiceren met name via bewegingen, gebaren en gevoelens en in dialoog en interactie met het publiek. We vroegen de performers naar hun collectief en hun optreden in De Thomas.
What is Performance Club?
The members of the Performance Club got together in 2022 as we found it helpful, and inspiring, to support each other’s practice as separate from any institutional structures we met in. The Performance Club in that sense is a space of care and practice outside of a clear infrastructure around it. We enjoyed meeting each other every couple of weeks so we continued doing that – it’s as simple as that.
How did you come to the idea of the performance at De Thomas?
All of us have always made performances, also during the open studios at the Rijksakademie. What is different perhaps is that with the Performance Club we try to think what would a truly collective performance practice look like which does not usually fit in neatly with the individualistic mindset of a lot of art practices, careers and institutions.
Can you tell a bit more about this exchange and interweaving of the body, time and space? How does it work?
The interweaving of body, time and space is of course different for every performer in the Performance Club, so we can’t answer it in a clear-cut way. What is important to keep in mind is that through having frequent meetings in the last two years, we experiment with our bodies, time (perception) and space (perception) so it is an embodied process with an open end. We are happy to share the point we are in the process with the public at De Thomas as it will unfold in surprising ways which we cannot predict. Perhaps that is the element which interweaves – to surprise and be surprised by what we encounter.
Your upcoming performance seems different from staged, choreographed and carefully designed performances. The interaction between body, time and space seem more fluid, perhaps. More spontaneous; direct and interactive; based on direct action and interaction. How do you see this?
Indeed, you articulated it well. People can expect to be surprised, as we too, as a collective are expecting to be surprised by what each of us brings to the performance but also by how the audience will interact with us and also play a role.
Nevertheless, we cannot overlook the diverse and distinct backgrounds of each member of this group, backgrounds that often extend beyond a single context or topic for artistic programs. A necessity, a resistance, a rebellion, a silence, or an alternative way of existence —as you referred to real life. We believe this can provide the opportunity to acquire a sort of knowledge that cannot be obtained from a systematic framework (of the mainstream of contemporary art). It may seem more like a manifesto that has yet to be realized, but the potential is there.
Meer informatie over het optreden van Performance Club op 3 juli in De Thomas vind je hier.