A dimly lit room filled with vibrant banners, revealing mysterious humanoid creatures, seemingly floating in space, gazing at you - sometimes. A colossal painting, inviting you into a dreamlike landscape with strange figures, lurking in the shades of a deep forest, standing close to one another - calm, powerful and proud. An eerie sound is haunting the air - if you listen closely, you can hear their voices. And if you are patient enough, you might catch some bodies moving through this strange universe - disturbing and freeing.
monsters
2024
a multimedia performance for 2 performers
75 min
In collaboration with Argentinian performer Patricio Ruiz, the choreographer and transdisciplinary artist Valerie Reding creates with monsters a compelling multi-sensorial performance to share the powerful stories of those that have experienced abuse in interpersonal relationships - stories that get so often hidden and silenced in our society. Combining movement, sound, text, photography and painting in an immersive and poetic multimedia stage work with contributions by Lausanne-based painter David Weishaar, Berlin-based sound artist Lou Drago and Valerie Reding's own photographic work, monsters fiercely reclaims the monstrosity that is projected on survivors and those who speak up against abuse (of power) and systems of oppression. This eclectic work is an empowering celebration of the liberating power of one‘s voice, resilience, healing, solidarity - and love. It is also a sensitive and thought-provoking reflection on the figure of the monster and the complex interconnections between interpersonal and societal power relations.
concept & artistic direction
Valerie Reding
performance & text
Patricio Ruiz & Valerie Reding
sound for performance
Camilo Ortiz, Patricio Ruiz, Tyler Holmes
dramaturgical advisor
Joshua Wicke
lights & scenography
Thomas Giger
costumes for performance
WHATISREAL
painting The Heart Is Ours
David Weishaar
soundscape for spatial installation
Lou Drago
photography, prosthetics & scenography
Valerie Reding
people portrayed & texts
Aron Smith, Bast Hippocrate, Pauline Canavesio aka BORA, Robyn Iyongo, Salou Sadras, William Cardoso
costume assistance
Nahuel Mendez
ceramic objects
Kwadrat by Luka Stamenkovic
trailer and video documentation
Sophie Berset
photo documentation
Julie Folly
production assistance
Nico Dubosson
production & administration
REDart
co-production
Tanzhaus Zürich
partners
Grand Studio Bruxelles, TROIS C-L - Maison Pour La Danse
financial support
Cassinelli-Vogel-Stiftung, Ernst und Olga Gubler-Hablützel Stiftung, Fondation Émilie Gourd, Fondation Été, Fonds RESPECT by Pink Cross, TGNS - Transgender Network Switzerland & LOS - Lesbenorganisation Schweiz, Kanton Zürich Kultur, Kultur|lx Arts Council Luxembourg, Migros-Kulturprozent, Ministère de la Culture Luxembourgeois, Oeuvre Nationale de Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte, Stadt Zürich Kultur
