{"id":9928,"date":"2025-03-11T15:29:08","date_gmt":"2025-03-11T14:29:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpzimmer.be\/?post_type=projects&p=9928"},"modified":"2026-07-14T15:39:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T13:39:38","slug":"dark-waters","status":"publish","type":"projects","link":"https:\/\/wpzimmer.be\/en\/projects\/dark-waters\/","title":{"rendered":"dark waters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

dark waters<\/em> 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<\/em> are freediving vespers singing to their own online mystique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u201cstates of flow\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To amplify the spiritual resonance the piece draws inspiration from two recognizable elements in catholic liturgy: Gregorian chant and Gothic prayer books. It\u2019s 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<\/em> 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<\/a>
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