Author: theprogressivewave

Native Defragmentation

Posted on by theprogressivewave

Native Defragmentation

3-Channel video installation (10 minutes loop)
with a parallel soundscore (18 minutes loop)
Artist-made Sukkah, found objects
Vernissage: October 1st, 2022, CLB Gallery, Berlin.

In a floating Sukkah*, a marriage between primal existences is investigated. This 3-channel video installation employs verses from King Solomon’s erotic, holy poem Shir Hashirim [The Song of Songs], a passionate love song between the soul and its creator. The fractured poetry was translated into native Sign Language in a German/Israeli visual vernacular – a poetic form of Sign Language art, wedded with sacred indigenous Brazilian tunes on a parallel channel. The piece blends several artistic mediums to inspire reflection on the notions of nativeness and global cross-cultural intersections (*Sukkah – a temporary hut constructed during the week-long Jewish festival of Sukkot, topped with branches and often well decorated with autumnal, harvest, or Judaic themes).

Sign Language Poetic Translation & Performance: Eyk Kauly, Athena Lange, Gal Naor
Video: Shira Kela 
Sound: Matan Zamir 
Vocals: Lia Amit, Gal Naor
Special Thanks to Yehonatan Shayovitz, Sarah Marcus 

Photography by Anton Tal

The piece was coproduced by LABA Berlin, a laboratory for Jewish culture, sponsored by ReBeam GmbH – Audio visual equipment in Berlin, and presented at CLB Gallery, Berlin.

Oráculo installation

Posted on by theprogressivewave

Oráculo Installation

Oráculo installation preview, October 29th, 2017,  Circle1 gallery, Berlin
Vernissage: June  21st, 2018, Trauma Bar und Kino, Berlin 

A site-specific performative installation for a gallery space unravels an intimate view into the world of Oráculo, the second chapter in The progressive wave’s performance trilogy, Science of Signs. The scenography made of natural wood and ropes for Oráculo’s stage is presented in three gallery rooms, revealing fantastic and surreal altar spaces. With an ongoing performative presence, projections on water and original knotted rope objects, and live audiovisual experiments.

Concept, Direction, Choreography, Sound-Score Design: Gal Naor and Matan Zamir
Set, Light, Video. Design, Technical Direction: Marc Jungreithmeier
Performance: Jessica Comis, Ruby Wilson
Rope Objects: Ori Efrat
Costume Design: Don Aretino
Photography: Shiran Eliaserov

Oráculo installation is a production of The progressive wave with the support of Trauma Bar und Kino and Circle1 gallery, Berlin.

LoveArchive

Posted on by theprogressivewave

LoveArchive
a Performative Installation
by Karolin Stächele and The progressive wave

Premiere: Sunday, January 26th, 2020, Contemporary Art Gallery, E-Werk, Freiburg

In continuation of her ten months of research and documentation project, choreographer Karolin Stächele invited us to join forces and co-create a performative installation on the topic of love. LoveArchive is looking into how people love in today’s culture, and the diverse ways love can be expressed in our times.

Concept, Artistic Direction: Karolin Stächele
Dramaturgy and Choreography: The progressive wave (Gal Naor & Matan Zamir)
Creative Performers: Lotta Sandborgh, Angelo Petracca, Chiara Marolla, Gal Naor, Karolin Stächele
Space Design: Sönke Ober
Project Advisor: Sabine Noll
Photography: Jennifer Rohrbacher, Michaela Klaehn

LoveArchive is a production of the Dagada Dance Company in collaboration with The progressive wave, in cooperation with E-WERK Freiburg – Gallery for Contemporary Art. Funded by the Cultural Office in Freiburg and Landesverband Freie Tanz, Theaterschaffende Baden-Württemberg e.V. With funds from the Ministry of Science, Research and Art of the State of Baden-Württemberg.

ZONE

Posted on by theprogressivewave

ZONE
a contemporary site-specific dance ritual

Premiere: July 5th, 2019 at Halle am Berghain, Berlin

An audiovisual odyssey unfolds infernal and celestial imagery
bodies are gathered in a circle to hold a secret ceremony
forming and deforming abstract ornaments
they redefine space, possess, merge, and dissolve.
A sudden desire erupted out of the ritualistic pattern.
A sacrifice fulfilled as empty. 

This interdisciplinary site-specific dance performance takes its inspiration from the ancient Sufi dance, fusing various reflective acts in which a state of trance can be reached, with a live video installation, a contemporary electronic sound-score, and a fashion-forward statement. 

 A zone where minds can blend into collective awareness. 

Concept & Art Direction: Idan Gilony for UY Studio
Curation: Helena Eleonora Rönnmark
Co-Artistic Direction & Choreography: The progressive wave
(Gal Naor and Matan Zamir)
Sound Composition & Live Set: Dasha Rush
Solo Performance: Valentin Tszin
Creative Dancers: Alistair Wroe, Angelo Petracca, Annalise Van Even, Aya Nakagawa, Davide Troiani, Georgia Bettens, Gianna DiGirolamo, Hollie Dorman, Jemima Rose Dean, Lorenzo Savino, Lydia Toompere, Lysandre Coutu-Sauvé, Madeleine White, Maria Chroni, Marta Antinucci, Matilde Bassetti, Rima Baransi, Ross Martinson
Lights: Michał Andrysiak
Vocals: Emre Zaim Demirtas
Visuals: Stanislav Glazov
Costumes: UY Studio
Production: Leo Beck, Dominika Wiśniewska
Video Trailer: Petros Kolotouros
Photography: Irma Fs for Vogue Magazine,  Nadia Morozewicz for Sleek Magazine, Frank R. Schröder for iHeartBerlin

ZONE was produced by fashion-label and art platform, UY studio, as part of their fifth anniversary at Halle am Berghain, Berlin, curated by Helena Eleonora Rönnmark, and in artistic collaboration with sound composer and established Dj, Dasha Rash, Butoh and performance artist, Valentin Tzin, and body-mind researches and choreographers, Matan Zamir and Gal Naor (The progressive wave).

A Midsummer Night’s Dream 

Posted on by theprogressivewave

A Midsummer Night’s Dream 

Premiere: March 16th, 2018 at Ballhaus Ost, Berlin.

When language loses its meaning, bodies collide. A dream becomes a reality, and reality becomes a dream. In a night full of desires and love, the innermost secrets rage outwards.

In this unique production, Possible World ensemble explores together with The progressive wave, the potential of language as an action in space. Emerging from the written text of William Shakespeare and its translation to German Sign Language, into the expansion of a dreamy queer version of the play. Making use of Bharatanatyam choreography and body language, the piece is mixing Sign Language with a robust physical approach.

The cast consists of ten Deaf and hearing performers. This international ensemble challenges the traditional Western boundaries of language and literature.

The piece is accessible to both hearing and Deaf audiences.

Direction: Michaela Caspar
Choreography: The progressive wave / Gal Naor & Matan Zamir
Creative Performers: Anka Böttcher, Brian Duffy, Emilia von Heiseler, Eyk Kauly, Athina Lange, Peter Marty, Gal Naor, Okan Seese, Anne Zander, Wille F. Zante
Translation to German Sign-Language: Eyk Kauly, Wille F. Zante, Corinna Brenner
Bharatanatyam Choreography: Rajyashree Ramesh
Scenography: Jan-Peter E.R. Sonntag
Costumes: Gabriele Wischmann
Visual Vernacular: Brian Duffy
Video: Jens Kupsch
Light Design: Fabian Eichner
Director Assistant: Max Neu
Production Manager: Daniel Schrader

A production of Possible World e. V. in cooperation with Ballhaus Ost, Berlin. Funded by Aktion Mensch, Vinci Foundation and the Herbert-Grünewald-Foundation.

Science of Signs

Posted on by theprogressivewave
Gif by iHeartBerlin

Science of Signs Performance Trilogy 

In 2016, together with the support of ID Festival Berlin, The progressive wave had embarked on working their interdisciplinary performance trilogy, Science of Signs.

This theatric triptych, presented in three correlating chapters, is exploring the relations between science, performance, and spiritual studies, and structuring unique dramaturgical modules to examine juxtapositions and overlaps between religious motifs, traditional elements, and cultural references from around the globe.

Making use of various written, spoken and signed languages, cameras, 3D video-mapping, and the execution of live audio-visual experiments, the trilogy is exploring the common ground of humankind. It aims to reveal the similarities and connections of different nations, cultures, and beliefs, and shapes an innovative translation to coded universal knowledge.

This interdisciplinary spectacle gives prominence to the work of Art as to a work of Translation and instructs to question the spiritual and educative roles of Performance-Art in today’s culture, basing its philosophical searches in the heart of all experience, which is familiar to all human beings.

Science of Signs performance trilogy strives to adopt a comprehensive approach towards both esoteric and mainstreamed religious doctrines and spiritual theories to examine their relevance in contemporary society, traveling between the now, the ancient, and the futuristic.

Science of Signs I: Lights & Vessels

Science of Signs II: Oráculo

 Oráculo

Posted on by theprogressivewave

Science of Signs II: Oráculo
a metalingual voyage by The progressive wave 

Premiere: January 26th, 2018 in the frame of ID festival, Berlin.

In a fantastic temple made of wood and ropes, a quartet of priests and priestesses translate sacred scriptures into contemporary visual expressions. They create ritualistic patterns around the altar to reflect the hidden “I” – the ultimate nature of reality.

Making use of written and signed languages, live kinetic and cymatic experiments, and projections on water and knitted rope-objects, this performative hybrid is forming unusual dramaturgical modules to examine overlaps between ancient teachings. 

Oráculo is the second chapter in The progressive wave’s performance trilogy Science of Signs. The work is exploring the relations between performance, physics, and philosophy in a thought-provoking theatric setting.

Concept, Direction, Choreography, Sound-Score Design: Gal Naor, Matan Zamir
Stage, Light, Video Design, Technical Direction: Marc Jungreithmeier
Performance: Jessica Comis, Louis Edler, Gal Naor, Ruby Wilson
Paper, Rope, Textile Design: Ori Efrat
Costume Design: Don Aretino
Props & Makeup: Hermes Pittakos
Outside Eye: Sigal Zouk
Light operator: Fabian Eichner
 Soundscore Editing: Daphna Keenan
Sign-Language Consultant: Ace Mahbaz, Rita Mazza
Production Management: M.i.C.A – Movement in Contemporary Art
Director’s assistant: Dana Scherer
Production assistants: Sveta Azriel, Aleksander Ceresnjes, Iulia Postelnicu
Video trailer: Petros kolotouros
Photography:  Ruthe Zuntz

Oráculo is a production of The progressive wave, with the support of ID Festival Berlin and in collaboration with Theater Thikwa. With the financial support of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media and the Szloma Albam Foundation. With the kind support of Ballhaus Ost, Sasha Waltz & Guests, Polyphony, Theaterhaus Mitte and Heilehaus (Berlin).

Lights & Vessels

Posted on by theprogressivewave

Science of Signs I: Lights & Vessels
a dance lecture performance by The progressive wave

Premiere: October 21st, 2016 in the frame of ID festival, Berlin.

In a mindful laboratory, a sign language interpreter operates a mystery: What is the language above all languages, and what universal messages are echoing through it? He wears the alchemist gloves to examine the inevitable relationship between language, identity and consciousness.  

A mystic voyage into the universal teachings of Kabbalah wisdom. This narrated solo piece aims to uncover a thought-provoking outlook on the secret knowledge, suggesting an up to date interpretation of the sacred tongue.

Making use of cameras, 3D video mapping, and live visual experimentations, this audio-visual performance is portraying saturated translations to existential questions, and exploring the indivisible substance everything is made of. 

Lights & Vessels is the first chapter in The progressive wave’s performance trilogy Science of Signs. A scientific solo piece about the metaphysics of language and love.

Concept/Choreography/Performance: Gal Naor
Co-artistic Direction/Dramaturgy: Matan Zamir
Stage/Light/Video Design and Technical Direction: Marc Jungreithmeier
Original Music Composition: Ori Alboher
Costume Design: Don Aretino
Production Management: Ann-Christin Görtz
Text Transcription: Bennet Togler 
Production Assistant: Lilla Roma Weisselberg, Jessica Comis
Promotion Photography and Video Teaser: Shira Kela

Lights & Vessels is a production of The progressive wave with the support of ID Festival (Berlin) and with the kind support of Tanzlabor 21 (Frankfurt), Radialsystem V, Sasha Waltz & Guests, Heilehaus and Diamond Freddie (Berlin).

.

Photos: Ruthe Zuntz 

 

Promotional videos

bodieSLANGuage

Posted on by theprogressivewave

bodieSLANGuage
by matanicola and The progressive wave

Premiere: September 11th, 2014 at Ballhaus ost, Berlin

Mixing contemporary dance, Sign Language and pop culture, three choreographers explore the expression possibilities of the hands with a group of eight international Deaf and hearing performers.

A saturated audiovisual journey; a celebration of cultural manifestations; a multilingual landscape, quoting, mixing and transforming cultural codes, highlighting the “queer”, the “other” and the alternative.

bodieSLANGuage is a production by the Berlin based choreographers duo matanicola (Nicola Mascia & Matan Zamir) and the Sign Language interpreter and performance artist Gal Naor, who collaborate for the first time in this interdisciplinary dance performance.

Concept / Direction / Choreography: Nicola Mascia, Gal Naor, Matan Zamir
Performance: Bráulio Bandeira, Jan Michael Kress, Laura Levita Valyte, Maureen Lopez Lembo / Yaara Dolev, Nicola Mascia, Gal Naor, Jija Sohn, Simo Vassinen / Manuel Perez Torres 
Soundscore Design: Tomer Rosenthal
Light Design: Avi Yona Bueno (Bambi)
Audio / Visual Interaction: Safy Etiel
Costume Design: Saša Kovacevic
Technical Direction: Fabian Bleisch
Production Direction: Annett Hardegen
Public Relations: Nora Gores
Photography: Benedikt J. Feldmann

A production of matanicola and the progressive wave in co-production with Theater Freiburg and Ballhaus Ost, Berlin. Funded by the Hauptstadtkulturfonds, Berlin. With the friendly support of Tanzfabrik, Dock 11, Tess-Relay-Dienste, Edelmat and Sniper, Berlin.

Photos by Benedikt J. Feldmann & Olga Khristolyubova