curated by danniel tostes and antoine schalk
Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst
Limmatstrasse 270, Zürich
Lou Drago & Jules Petru
nvk’s investigation with virtuality, vegetality & drag is a research on the methods of metamorphosis that can be embodied to diffuse an identity. The audio environment will propel the movement and vibes of the performance, providing context and scene while Sassy glitches.
This performance builds on an earlier performance of nvk’s called non-playable-bodies is a performative simulation, an embodiment of algorithms (as scores) and the middle space between the real and virtual. The durational performance and audio investigates how memory, delegation and drag is embodied to assemble and dissolve our conceptions of reality and identity.
The n-p-b was birthed from a glitch, instantly cutting a hole in cyber time, and thrusting this NPC/virtual character onto a physical form––but only temporarily. The n-p-b is not a manifestation, but instead a consensual possession, where nvk uses drag as a technology and portal, for the glitch to take a temporary physical form, to manifest as Sassy.
This could be imagined as an invitation to pull up from the dirt all that has grown and does not serve us, so we are able to plant new seeds which, with careful attendance, will grow into the societies and futures that we want to see. For the second iteration of Interventions on Frequency, artist and community organiser Lou Drago is joined by performer and choreographer Jules Petru Fricker to present Prismatic Fragments I: duvetdomme, a listening-occassion which tackles notions of care, intimacy and sociability.
The recent research of Lou Drago seeks potential affinities between all of those who are systemically and culturally oppressed in an earnest attempt to inspire a renewed sense of collective imagination among a largely disorganised or disaffected and fragmented so-called 'Left.' To survive during apocalyptic times, Drago believes we must draw on many far flung strings of intelligence from the undercommons, crucially; not only logical intelligence, also somatic, emotional, spiritual and energetic. This collective or, – prismatic – intelligence could be seen as a way forward for those wanting to shape change both collectively and personally. Since 2020 they have been writing and speaking about these concepts, as a guide toward enacting a more 'radical sociability.’ Radical Sociability could be described as a way of reimagining social relations outside of racial capitalism and identity-based logic for collective liberation. The listening-occasion, Prismatic Fragments I: duvetdomme, combines this more theoretical/experiential research together with Drago's ongoing sound and live-art practice. During this listening-occasion they create an intimate environment for reflecting on these topics, with the support of music chosen specifically for its comforting and narrative qualities.For this occasion, they are joined by the performance artist Jules Petru Fricker in a collective care ritual to begin the Prismatic Fragments series as they mean to continue; with ease, subtlety, and care for the artists to continue their radical sociability warriorship from a more deeply grounded place. duvetdomme is a collective work spawned together with Maria F. Scaroni, marum, Fricker and Drago.