12.–21.4. / HAU1, HAU2, HAU3, HAU4
With A Song For You, Jumoke Adeyanju, allapopp, Lia Becker, melanie bonajo, Ali Chahrour, Tjaša Črnigoj, Ivo Dimchev, Diane Esnault, FEELINGS, Erica Fischer, Wen Hui, Suzanne Lacy, Kiki Lounge Berlin (Amanita Marciano, Mami Magia Marciano, Twiggy Pucci Garçon u.a.), George Lewis Jr aka Twin Shadow, Isabel Lewis, Ligia Lewis, Sarah Lewis Cappellari, Shaly Lopez, Sadie Lune, Calixto Neto, Other Nature, Emilia Roig, Elisabeth von Samsonow, Skinship, Tatreez Berlin, Sophie Utikal, Sarah Vanhee, Naya de Souza aka Lux Venérea, video works by Daniel Cremer, Theater HORA, Yanna Rüger, Annie Sprinkle & Beth Stephens a.o.
Love – often extoled and still more often described. Apparently self-explanatory and for the most part closely tied to an idea of “romance”. But the concept is actually gaining new potential meaning, particularly at a time of multiple political and economic crises. In our festival “Love is a Verb”, we want to bring transparency to the idea of love, not in the stasis of a noun but in the dynamics of a verb. This foregrounds the question of how we want to live together and relate to one another.
What contradictions do we have to endure in order to grow beyond preconceived notions of family, romance and age? How can we trace the mothers, grandmothers, and the generation of women whose lifelong labour has been rendered invisible? And what if loving were to describe a general benevolence towards other people, living beings, the planet, and oneself – as well as the ability and willingness to grow in tandem?
Alongside the artistic stage productions for HAU2 and HAU3, and digital projects at HAU4, the “Vessel of Love” at HAU1, a space specially designed with works by Sophie Utikal and a spatial concept by Diane Esnault and Shaly Lopez – forms the centrepiece of the festival. A variety of events including concerts, performances, lectures, and talks will share, discuss, imagine, and celebrate polyphonic ideas about transformative relationships.
