An exploration of gender, transformation, physical expression and censorship against the backdrop of rising authoritarianism.
In Body Politics, originally shown as part of CTM Festival 2021’s online programme, Berlin’s Born in Flamez and dancers Lilly Pfalzer and Rebecca Pokua Korang collaborate with masked Mexican performer Muxxxe in a piece that makes use of voice, bodies, electronics and plastic waste.
Body Politics sees the artists explore ideas of gender, transformation, physical expression, the body and censorship against the backdrop of the current global rise in authoritarianism. CTM says: “As forms of oppression become structural and thus invisible, the artists ask how we might shape and use queer spaces in the face of curfews and quarantine, express our love and care while in isolation, and channel anger and despair together in a world that feels like it’s entering its final chapter.”
The piece was shown as part of CTM’s trans/local series, commissioned works that were originally live-streamed from Silent Green’s Betonhalle venue. Each performance in the series links a Berlin-based artists with other creatives from around the world to explore remote collaboration.
Find more highlights from CTM 2021’s programme in our archive, and look out for more in the coming weeks.
Credits:
Music: Born in Flamez, except ‘The Wrong Song’ feat Muxxxe, music by Born In Flamez and Muxxxe; and ‘This is What my Body Says’, music by Born In Flamez and Muxxxe
Concept: Born in Flamez, Christian Fritzenwanker, Lilly Pfalzer
Dancers: Lilly Pfalzer, Ronald Berger
Directior: Juergen Lehmann
DOP: Lisanne Schulze
Camera Operators: Christoph Haubold, Sebastian Rietz
Art Direction: Born in Flamez, Christian Fritzenwanker, Juergen Lehmann
Lights: Falk Dittrich
Sound recording: Helge Petzold
Editor: Max Dahlhaus
Location: Hellerau European Center for the Arts
Supported by Hellerau European Center for the Arts, Musicboard Berlin, and Festival Centro Historico, Mexico City
Watch next: CTM 2021: Peaches & Pussykrew – Fill the Whole
