Karel van Laere

The Non-present Performer

Choreography: Amos Ben-Tal

Part of "CTM 2020 – Liminal"

Performance

English / approx. 75 min.

Karel van Laere is a performance and visual artist from The Netherlands, exploring the vulnerability of the human body in contrast to the machine. His work often begins with sincere questions, such as: What would it be like if, just like a computer, you could switch off your body every now and then? Or, what does it feel like to be dependent on a machine or on others? He then uses these enquiries to reach extreme bodily states, situated firmly within a given space, including using non-presence techniques.

For CTM 2020, Karel van Laere will perform his work “The Non-Present Performer,” in which he surrenders his limp, hypnotised body to a choreographer and three dancers. In his words: “the closest to what I was looking for seemed to be anaesthesia or an epidural. So I approached an anaesthesiologist. My idea to do a live performance under anaesthesia proved to be impossible. However, the anaesthesiologist did convince me of the power of hypnosis in this context. The result of all this became a performance in which I, hypnotized, handed over my body to a choreographer and three dancers surrounded by a live audience. I asked the dancers to look for physical borders, to experiment, and to make me the subject of their research as “The Non-Present Performer.”

Cast

Dancers: Jin Young Won, Miguel Toro, und Saul Vega Mendoza / Hypnotist: Joris Waayer

Dates

Past

Credits

CTM 2020 is funded by the Senate Department for Culture and Europe, Initiative Musik, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media, Goethe-Institut, Federal Foreign Office, Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, Canada Council for the Arts, Government of Canada, Nordic Culture Fund. In collaboration with HAU Hebbel am Ufer, transmediale 2020, Kulturprojekte Berlin, and many more. “The Non-Present Performer” is supported by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Location

HAU2

Hallesches Ufer 34, 10963 Berlin

There are two marked parking spots in front of the building. Barrier-free restroom facilities are available. Four relaxed seats are available in the first row of HAU2. Tickets for wheelchair users and accompanying persons can also be booked via the ticketing system. If you need help, please contact our Ticketing & Service team at +49 (0)30 259004-27 or send us an email to
tickets@hebbel-am-ufer.de.

Latest information for arrival:

There is currently a construction site on Hallesches Ufer between Wilhelmstraße and Möckernbrücke underground station. There is a divided replacement route for pedestrians (right) and cyclists (left), which are separated by a yellow ground line. The carriageway is narrowed to one lane.

Travelling to HAU2 via U Hallesches Tor:

If you are coming from Hallesches Tor underground station, you will have to use an alternative footpath from Wilhelmstraße / Hallesches Ufer junction, which is separated from the carriageway by a construction fence – the actual footpath is currently closed. Please note: the alternative route is also used by cyclists. Pedestrians should keep to the right. We therefore currently recommend that visually impaired or blind visitors come to the HAU with an accompanying person.

Arrival HAU2 via U Möckernbrücke:

When you leave Möckernbrücke underground station, please stay on the footpath on the canal side until you reach Hallesches Ufer / Großbeerenstraße junction – the opposite side is currently closed due to construction work.

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