Christine Matschke
The philosopher Byung-Chul Han got to the crux of the matter in his essay “The Burnout Society”: People today are suffering from an “excess of positivity” that expresses itself in the imperative “Yes, we can!”. What really matters is what we can do. But how well can we actually cope with not being able, with fate, our own mortality and death? Aimé C. Songe alias Clément Layes provides the impetus for a critical look at the concept of an overactive and overproductive life in his buoyant performance “THE RIVER – PART I”. For one summer, always on weekdays and always at sunset, one performer will row one spectator out onto the Spree. Far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the passenger, invited to do nothing, is then taken on a dreamlike journey, simply watching and listening. The project will be continued indoors in winter in the form of a multimedia intimate parkour choreographed by Jasna L. Vinovrški – “THE RIVER – PART II”.