how to strike roots into the void – a trapeze artists view on artistic processes as permacultural growing

Carmen Raffaela Küster

This project researches body and object relationships through practical exploration (practice-led research) in suspension and on the ground. It illuminates connected thoughts linked to posthuman philosophy, permaculture, physical movement and contemporary circus. Our perception of the world is getting more global and connected, but we have not realised yet the full complexity of all the interdependencies and interplays. In fact it is more than questionable whether this might be graspable for any human to its full extend at all… The state of being ‘in suspension’ is taken as an analogy for the times we live in – life itself. In a world in which pop-stars sing ‘I have no roots’ (Merton, 2016), mass-migration makes people leave their homes involuntarily and others choose nomadic livestyles that leave them only loosely connected with a geographical place and a single culture. But at the same time, we are always tightly connected (digitally) with ‘the whole world’. 'How to strike roots into the void?' is the essential question of this interdisciplinary research, which has its roots deep 'down' in aerial acrobatic movement. How could this rooting be possible at all? And in which ways? – referring to the question of quality: 'HOW' can we in these times as human being strike out our own roots? Who and what can keep us grounded? To whom or what are we reaching out to search for connection? What nourishes us? And where to hold on to, if the substrate is emptiness – the Void – the uncertainty of life itself?

CREDITS | RESEARCH

this Exposition and the repective Artistic Research was initiated in the frame of my MA studies:
COMMA – Co-Creation of Movement Master of Choreography at Fontys & Codarts | NL.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

my COMMA peers, the core team of COMMA, and my StudyFacilitators Soosan Gilson & Dirk Dumon.
my Coaches: Cohdi Harrell (Artistic Coach) Sebastian Kann (Writing Coach), Tim Behren (Research Coach)

THANK YOU

for the generous support in so many aspects – Gernot Bitschi

for sharing with me this crazy study experience – Ariane Öchsner

for the inspiring talks about Experience Design – Bettina Schwalm

for the amazing Learning/Shadowing Journey – Mariella Greil

for sharing her Parmaculture knowledge & proof reading – Natasha Weddepohl

for introducing me to Bamboo Flow/Integral Bambu Movement – Will Lopez

for inviting me to #ablebodiesandstones aerial research – Jana Korb

for her inspiring Artistic Research & exchange – Eleni Danesi

and for your beautiful creative contributions – my Research Team:

Sina Nikolaus, Signild Thygesen, Linda Küster, Olga Spyraki,

Natasha Weddepohl, Jana Korb and Noa Lara Meir

CREDITS | PERFORMANCE CREATION

Striking Roots into the Void

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER

Carmen Raffaela Küster

Produced by Carmen Raffaela Küster in collaboration with in_tensegrity

MUSIC

live cello & composition Nicola Tobias,

research support by Enzo Caterino

feat. lyrics of Alison Burns/Treesong & Jovanotti/Mi fido di te

LIGHT, COSTUMES & SET DESIGN

Carmen Raffaela Küster in co-creation with in_tensegrity

RIGGING

Gernot Bitschi

PERFORMANCE

Carmen Raffaela Küster (aerial acrobatics & performance),
Nicola Tobias (live music), Gernot Bitschi (on stage counterweighting)

OUTSIDE EYE

Sina Nikolaus

PARTNERS:

Kulturinsel Einsiedel

Phoenix Creative

Katapult Berlin

tanztheaterperformance WUK

circus re:searched

Berlin Circus Festival

Can You Beat Me

Nirgendwo

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