dark waters

dark waters is a multidisciplinary performance that depicts freediving – the sport of going underwater in just one breath- as a contemporary form of mystical prayer. It conjures images of catholic liturgy from the gothic period and projects them onto social media and popular culture of today. dark waters are freediving vespers singing to their own online mystique.

Rooted in the practice of freediving, the piece explores the meditative and physical act of deep underwater immersion without oxygen. It takes the point of view of contemporary freedivers who seek to appeal to broad audiences by sharing their experiences on social media. Through their accounts of “states of flow” and spiritual revelations, their references to inspirational culture and biblical symbolism, their communications on social media blurs the line between what is authentic and what is performed and opens the possibility of a mystique: this is the space where the piece navigates. Peeling layers of ambiguity, humor and authentic spiritual feelings, the piece confronts the audience with their own perceptions of spirituality and its commodification online.

To amplify the spiritual resonance the piece draws inspiration from two recognizable elements in catholic liturgy: Gregorian chant and Gothic prayer books. It’s more specifically the Black Books of Hours that were considered; produced in Bruges between 1458 and 1485, they are an exceptional, unique and fragile example of mystique in material form. Their black and silver color-concept is forever iconic, eye-catching and curiously reminiscent of the screen. dark waters displays its own digital prayer book that audience members can access on their smartphones if they wish to follow the lyrics and immerse in a more introspective experience. It is available on mydarkwaters.com

Timeline:

Research and development in Oct. 2024 – Jul 2025. With the support of C-takt, De Singel & espace delombre. Funded by the Flanders State of the Arts
Creation 2026
Première tbc

credits

Performance: Laurent Delom, Antoine Thiollier, Clément Lecigne
Text: Collaboration between Laurent Delom & Antoine Thiollier
Choreography: Collaboration between Laurent Delom & Clément Lecigne
Music: Collaboration between Laurent Delom & Eline Flintrop
Light: Caroline Mathieu
Costumes: Karl-Joonas Alamaa
Images: Ann Cools
Dramaturgy: Simon Baetens
Vocal coash: Victoria Garduno, Chrystel Wautier
Outside eyes: Gosie Vervloessem, Federico Pezdirc, Pablo Lilienfeld
Production: Myrthe Bokelmann
Technics: Jurgen Fonteijn
Special thanks to: Sophie Dubreuil, Agnese Forlani, Karel Tuytschaever, Janna Beck, Marie Hartmann, Elvira Crois, Sean Heath, Sarah Rombouts, Marie Luyten
Production: wpZimmer
Co-production: Reiefestival, KAAP, Monty, Merksem Dok, wpZimmer, espace delombre (FR)
In collaboration with BiLT, a regional project of TheWorkshop
Development with thanks to: Zuidpool, C-TAKT, DESINGEL
With support of the Flemish Government and the City of Antwerp