Second Life presents the idea/l of a utopic community in two parts. The first, the virtual world of online communities such as Second Life, and the second a kind of futuristic retirement community, populated by elderly amateur performers 70 years and older.
The performance takes off from the consideration that the real world utopias (cruise ships, artificial private islands, gated communities) and those of the virtual worlds, exist on two sides of an ever-disappearing interface- where the real becomes more virtual, and the virtual more and more real. Whereas the first is primarily directed towards the elderly, the latter owes its existence to young gamers.
The question becomes what kind of utopia society is ultimately in the process of creating – do we hope for an extension or an alienation from embodiment, do we hope to imagine a whole new body or just to escape the realities of the one we have?
EXTRA INFO
Project year: 2008
CREDITS
Concept: Andros Zins-Browne
In collaboration with: Agnieszka Dmochowska, Béatrice Balcou and Jaime Llopis
Performed by: Andros Zins-Browne, Agnieszka Dmochowska, Béatrice Balcou, Jaime Llopis, Magda Vandecaveye, Henk Slijp, Julia Goffen, Jeanne Van Peperstraete, Ilse Verbert
Extra’s: Jacqueline Soetewey, Maurice De Keyzer, Hugo Recko
Sound: Peter Lenaerts
Costume assistance: Ada Rajszys
Light and technique: Luc Schaltin
Set elements: Rommelo Yu
Production: wpZimmer for Filter vzw
Co-production: BUDA kunstencentrum (Kortrijk), PACT/Zollverein (Essen), artcentre Vooruit (Ghent), Kaaitheater (Brussels)
With the support of: Flemish Government, Stad Antwerpen, Dans in Limburg and wpZimmer
In collaboration with: STUK kunstencentrum (Leuven), ccBe (Antwerpen)
Special thanks to: Beursschouwburg, Brussel , Seniorencentrum Brussel
PROJECT DATES
10/04/2010, PACT Zollverein, Essen (DE)
24/10/2009, wpZimmer/Amperdans Festival, Antwerp (BE)
25/02/2009, STUK, Leuven (BE)
26/02/2009, STUK, Leuven (BE)
18/02/2009, Vooruit, Ghent (BE)
19/02/2009, Vooruit, Ghent (BE)
21/11/2008, Kaaistudio’s, Brussels (BE)
22/11/2008, Kaaistudio’s, Brussels (BE)