GrAY ZONE
GrAY ZONE
GrAY
ZONE is a performance piece that rose from a personal investigation
into the objectification, fetishization and sexualization of people
(mostly assigned male at birth) who are perceived as “feminine”.
It is a reading of an ‘autobiographical text’. The text is about a date
with a man met online where assumptions were made and consent seemed
irrelevant. It talks about online/temporary dating culture in
relation to this topic and how some of these problematics can lead to
loneliness and trouble to find love or find out what love actually
means. It questions gender standards and peoples problematic
perceptions and assumptions that are often solely based on
appearances, clothes, hair, makeup and the gender our society has
imposed on these things. Through this text these preconceived notions
are questioned and countered with a criticizing reaction on today's
patriarchal, misogynistic system and the power relationship between
the binary idea of masculine and feminine. Suits and pants are linked
to masculinity and therefor power while heels and dresses are
associated with femininity and weakness. Everything/everyone that is
perceived female or feminine is automatically related to
unworthiness, submissiveness and often seen as just an object for
pleasure which leads to a non-consensual dehumanization and
sexualization. This can lead to 'gray rape', gray rape is sex where
consent is unclear, a state between consent and denial. Gray zone is
the unclear state between war and peace where there is still some
form of action or competition. It's like the war within the mind of
someone who finds themselves in a non-consensual situation, the war
between masculine and feminine, the war and struggles of daily life
because of other peoples problematic perceptions...
GrAY ZONE is a one-on-one private performance where one person at a time is welcomed into the space. The artist meets the person outside of the space, invites them to close their eyes and asks if he can guide them inside to a place where they can sit. The space is darkened and empty except from 3 chairs, 2 in front next to each other and 1 in the middle behind the other 2. There are 2 spots creating two mirrored shadows on the curtain in front of them. Once the audience member is seated on one of the front chairs they are asked to keep their eyes closed until they are asked to look outside. He tells them that they are free to leave if they would feel uncomfortable during the performance. When he asks them to open their eyes he starts reading the text. There are a few cue's where some simple actions happen (e.g. drink water), which are only visible in the shadows. For the last paragraph of the text, the artist puts away the laptop, gets up, moves in front of the audience member to close the curtain completely and sits down on the other chair next to them and ends the text. After finishing the person is informed and asked if they want to stay for a moment or leave, talk or not talk...
Text: Today Was Gray
Special thanks to: Heike Langsdorf for the guidance and mentoring.
GrAY ZONE is a one-on-one private performance where one person at a time is welcomed into the space. The artist meets the person outside of the space, invites them to close their eyes and asks if he can guide them inside to a place where they can sit. The space is darkened and empty except from 3 chairs, 2 in front next to each other and 1 in the middle behind the other 2. There are 2 spots creating two mirrored shadows on the curtain in front of them. Once the audience member is seated on one of the front chairs they are asked to keep their eyes closed until they are asked to look outside. He tells them that they are free to leave if they would feel uncomfortable during the performance. When he asks them to open their eyes he starts reading the text. There are a few cue's where some simple actions happen (e.g. drink water), which are only visible in the shadows. For the last paragraph of the text, the artist puts away the laptop, gets up, moves in front of the audience member to close the curtain completely and sits down on the other chair next to them and ends the text. After finishing the person is informed and asked if they want to stay for a moment or leave, talk or not talk...
Text: Today Was Gray
Special thanks to: Heike Langsdorf for the guidance and mentoring.
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