17.-18.10.2020

The mass man. Virtual performance & jewellery at Stattbad
by Janina Au and Lena Hetzel

Presentation with VR station
Saturday, 17.10. & Sunday, 18.10.2020
Time of day 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Place EMMA - Creative Centre Pforzheim, Emma-Jaeger-Straße 20, 75175 Pforzheim

"Der Massenmensch" revolves around the question of the extent to which people act in a self-determined or externally determined manner. Through a combination of performance and jewellery, "Der Massenmensch" refers to six different social and political behaviours of masses of people. These reflect the mechanisms of democratic and hierarchical systems as well as the behaviour of people within these structures. In this way, "The Mass Man" opens up different perspectives on the interactions of individuals with their environment and the mass of people. The fundamental thesis of "Der Massenmensch" is that self-determination = heteronomy, i.e. people are determined by their environment, but also interactively influence their environment themselves. The basic forms of circle and line are decisive for the jewellery pieces and performative movement sequences. Standing alone, the pieces of jewellery are purely aesthetic objects. When worn together as part of a performative presentation in a community or through connections with the space, the pieces of jewellery take on a function. The systematised actions of the groups of people question the relationship between external influence and self-organisation. The performance "Der Massenmensch" by Janina Au and Lena Hetzel was recorded in the indoor swimming pool of the former Emma-Jaeger-Bad using special technology for virtual space. Viewers can move freely around the pool with VR glasses or on the screen. Every angle of view and change of movement alters the constellation of the performance.

With the participation of: Sound: Firat Yildiz Drone flights: Jens Alemann Graphics: Michel Lörz

A project from Stattbad in cooperation with EMMA - Creative Centre Pforzheim