A durational performance* based on an artificially induced situation, where two people are in close physical proximity, yet their communication is significantly challenged by only being able to talk to each other virtually: through text messages, voice notes or photos. The familiarity of sharing the same space with another human being and the desire to connect is in contrast with the absurdity of the lack of verbal or tactile contact. This limitation is forcing the performers to constantly reinvent their methods to stay connected. The audience will be invited to observe their long hours of coexistence through the gallery window and individual headphones. The performance recontextualizes everyday communication tools but also provides a poetic metaphor for nowadays relationships often floating between self-made phantasies and semi-cyber interactions (social media, chats, etc). Besides the obvious critical approach, it equally addresses the correlations between physical and virtual presence, togetherness, intimacy, technology and phantasy as a tool for posthuman escapism.

*The performance runs for four hours and all the interactions between the performers (chat, video, call, photo) is projected onto the screen and can be listened to through a live stream online by individual headphones.

concept, performance
Burcu Bilgiç and Thea Soti

presented
in the framework of the festival
“STUDIO BOSPORUS”
24-25 September 2021
Galerie Auslage, Berlin