What happens when we metaphorically “lose ground” or, when we are forced to move elsewhere and adapt to a new reality?

Departing from this question, the serial project Die Entsetzte Lage originates from Nathalie S. Fari’s master thesis on the topic of migration (completed in 2009). Taking inspiration from a text of the philosopher and media theorist Vilém Flusser which in its essence, compares the nomadic life of human beings with the settling of plants, this project developed different performative formats such as lecture-performance, performance as exercise, performance-installation, and participatory performance. Independently of which format, a key focus lied in exploring the different emotional and physical states of being displaced, of not belonging to somewhere, or of experiencing a state of rootlessness. As Flusser would say:

People always began to philosophise from displacement/unsettledness. And since people only seldom unsettle themselves, displacement is a good method to become human in the fullest sense of the word.

Event Dates: May 2014, Month of Performance Art Berlin, Holzmarkt, Berlin / September 2015, artist-in-residency “Secret Hotel”, Denmark / November 2015, PERFOR 6 Performance Art Festival, Paço das Artes & Centro Cultural Barco, São Paulo / March 2017, artist-in-residency “Casa Floresta” from Ponte Cultura e.V., São Paulo / September 2017, Project “TERRITORIEN” from Ponte Cultura e.V., AEG Factory, Nürnberg.

Credits: Concept and Performance: Nathalie S. Fari / Photos: a.r.laub., Chris Von Ameln, Sohar Villegas, Vivian Iraola.

SHORT CLIP - DIE ENTSETZTE LAGE - MONTH OF PERFORMANCE ART BERLIN