Hyperviolence examined by Gisèle Vienne, proposing strategies for global salvation
Hey there, you're catching Gisèle Vienne, a French-Austrian powerhouse, during Berlin Art Week! Known for her bone-chilling mix of puppetry, mannequins, and live performers, she'll be putting on a damn big "play," as she calls it, at Haus am Waldsee. And that's not all—she's got new work at the Georg Kolbe Museum and a screened performance at Sophiensæle.
With a collab book coming out on Spector Books on the 11th of September, this Crazy Jane of performance art is bringing her unique blend of dance, installation, movie, philosophy, and politics to the table. She believes that our perceptions are political and that understanding the system can stop us from losing our marbles—literally and figuratively—in this neoliberal, authoritarian world.
In "This Causes Consciousness to Fracture – A Puppet Play" at Haus am Waldsee, life-sized dolls from adolescence and counterculture movements take center stage. These anthropomorphic representations will make you laugh, cry, and maybe even rage a little, as they express a wide range of emotions. You see, your body can be a battleground between societal norms and personal experience at any age, and Gisèle ain't afraid to put it all out there.
Now, when she calls her exhibitions "plays," she's inviting you to have different expectations. When you go to the theater, you expect movement, sound, and action. But if it's just static, she wants to get you thinking differently. And that's exactly what she's about—challenging your perceptions and inviting you to question the status quo.
Gisèle's also got a thing for dismantling perceptive frames. She reckons understanding the structure of our societies is the key to surviving in this crazy world. She points to the book "The Ungovernable Society: A Genealogy of Authoritarian Liberalism" by Grégoire Chamayou as an important read. And remember, it's not just about activism—it's also about changing institutionalized structures of perception.
So, when she tackles sexual abuse and violence in her work, she's not just airing dirty laundry. She's diving headfirst into the dark corners of society to expose the ugly truth. And that's exactly what she does in "Jerk" at Sophiensæle, a chilling film loosely based on the American serial killer, Candyman. Prepare yourself for a mind-bending exploration of violence, sexual abuse, and the human condition.
In November, Gisèle will be bringing "Crowd" back to life at Sophiensæle, an exploration of 90s club culture that reveals the ecstatic emotional states of a group of dancers. It's all about hypersensitivity, joy, and resistance—the perfect mix for a wild night out.
Her work’s ultimate goal? Expand the sensitivity and empathy of the audience. So buckle up and get ready for a emotional rollercoaster ride as Gisèle Vienne takes you on a journey through the subconscious, leaving no stone unturned.
- Haus am Waldsee, Argentinische Allee 30, Zehlendorf, 'This Causes Consciousness to Fracture – A Puppet Play', opens Sep 12, get tickets.
- Georg Kolbe Museum, Sensburger Allee 25, Westend 'I Know That I Can Double Myself. Gisèle Vienne and the Puppets and the Avantgarde', opens Sep 13, get tickets.
- Sophiensæle Sophienstr. 18, Mitte, Jerk, Sep 15, starts 14:00, get tickets.
P.S. Want more detailed insight on Gisèle's innovative work and impact on the performance art scene? Look no further than these resources:
- Gisèle Vienne: A Leading Voice in Experimental Performance
- Tacit Screams: Gisèle Vienne's Visual Language of Horror and Innocence
- The Political and Psychological Landscapes of Gisèle Vienne's Performance Art
- Gisèle Vienne's performance at Haus am Waldsee, titled "This Causes Consciousness to Fracture – A Puppet Play," delves into general-news topics such as societal norms and personal experiences, challenging audiences to rethink their perceptions and question the status quo.
- In her work, Gisèle Vienne addresses political issues, particularly focusing on the dark corners of society, such as sexual abuse and violence, using her creative platforms to provoke thought and spark conversations about these important general-news matters.
