Join us for an unforgettable night of performance art featuring Buhlebezwe Siwani, Rachel Monosov, Göksu Kunak, and Johannes Büttner. Each artist delves into personal, cultural, and political themes, from spiritual cleansing to geopolitical struggles, 1980s and 1990s Turkey, and sovereign individuals.
Buhlebezwe Siwani’s Inhlambuluko centers on cleansing ceremonies using medicinal plants and sound, offering a meditation on ancestral healing and vulnerability. This performance moves between the past and present, creating a spiritual and cognitive landscape.
Rachel Monosov’s Dead Earth, A Space of No Escape examines geopolitical power through control of land and resources, segregation, and legal manipulation. The piece features a sculptural installation activated by performances from Camilla Brogaard, Rachell Bo Clark, and opera singer Julia Shelkovskaia.
Göksu Kunak’s AN(A)KARA explores the memories of a Muslim child in 1980s and 1990s Turkey, addressing clichés and East-West clashes. Kunak delves into Turkey’s late modernity, focusing on Ankara and the nationalistic propaganda embodied by neoliberal TV hosts. The performance also examines the shift from the concept of fate (kısmet) to the fast pace of modernity.
Johannes Büttner’s latest work explores sovereign individuals in Europe, particularly in the Netherlands. Through spatial installations, music, and video, Büttner sheds light on those who reject state authority to follow their own rules. His performative installation investigates the diverse motives and ideologies of these sovereigns.
Performing Sovereignty is curated by Suzanne Wallinga, in conversation with Peter van den Hoogen and is suported by Mondriaan Fund, Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, and Cultuurfonds.
Image: Göksu Kunak, AN(A)KARA, 2021. © Ethan Folk
