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.


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