Those who still breathe

Description

As part of the Artist-in-Residence format "Sonic Boom," eight artists and ensembles of contemporary and experimental music have the opportunity to realize their own concert formats, sound performances, and music theater. Over a period of two years, they will each design and present two evenings where they can express their individual artistic approaches. Accompanied by an in-house discourse format and mentoring program, the series provides space for exchange between the audience, scene, and artists.
The development of our ability for social interaction and empathy has significantly shaped human evolution. Although the origin of human connection cannot be precisely dated, one thing is certain: it is deeply rooted in humanity. It is passed on, transformed, and continues to shape the way we live together through memories, bodies, and gestures.
In the age of hyperconnectivity, however, a paradox emerges: while people are constantly connected, four out of ten young people report feeling lonely. What if, in the future, the only possibility for human connection lay in the metaverse? In this space, two bodies navigate through fragments of human experiences: gestures of closeness, love, grief, conflict, and joy. They become traces of a collective memory, the language of which needs to be rediscovered.
The performance "Those Who Still Breathe" by Ludmilla Mercier embarks on a choreographic journey through what connects people. Contemporary dance, sound gestures, electronic music, and visual elements intersect. The movements of the two bodies become sound material themselves. Recorded voices, archival fragments, and artificial soundscapes create a futuristic environment where human memory meets the artificial.
Contributors and additional information:
Ludmilla Mercier (Artistic Direction/Composition); Romane Ruggiero (Choreography/Dance); Nicolas Roger Frau (Choreography/Dance); Varoujan Chetirian (Music Production); Diego Muhr (Media Art); Mariona Urgell Baiori (Costume)