fleshy interface

the cross-institutional opening festival “fleshy interface” combines performance, workshops and discourse on the themes of physicality and touch. the body as a medium and as an instrument in the performing arts, the digital body, bodilessness, and the longing to touch and be touched move to the center of attention in our particular time of physical distance: “skin-tight politics, a politic that takes as its orientation not the body as such, but the fleshy interface between bodies and worlds.” (sara ahmed)

as an interface between bodies and worlds, the skin is a border and a transition, it protects and is vulnerable, bears traces of our experiences and, last but not least, marks political and social conflicts. similar to skin, the screen delimits worlds and becomes our interface with the world during the lockdown. borders are sealed, encounters are regulated and skin, mucous membrane and body are stigmatised and politicised. “fleshy interface” searches for common points of contact, puts the body at the centre and advocates an idea of contamination through collaboration and encounter. the cultural institutions in zurich are pulling together and realising a week-long festival of encounters.

initiated by neumarkt in cooperation with cabaret voltaire, fabriktheater, gessnerallee, helferei, kunsthalle, literaturhaus, schauspielhaus, shedhalle, tanzhaus, theater winkelwiese, zhdk.

information on workshops can be found in the program booklet. the workshops are open to the public. the number of participants is limited. the existing hygiene rules and recommendations of bag apply. a binding registration until 11.9.2020 is requested. registration for all workshops at fleshyinterface@stage.theaterneumarkt.ch

pictures: ©james bantone