There's a balance in the choir / There's imbalance in the choir

Caressa Betist

Keywords: Performance art, Feminism, Song

caressabetist.nl, instagram.com/caressabetist

Performance of 12 min. Together with Diamanto Katerina, Bruna Pereira, Dārta Liepina & Alessandra Marangon.

Timeslots:

Friday 01/07:
17:30 - 17:45 (part of preview)
20:30-20:45

Saturday 02/07:
14:00-14:15
16:00-16:15
18:00-18:15

Sunday 03/07:
14:00-14:15
16:00-16:15
18:00-18:15

Monday 04/07
14:00-14:15
16:00-16:15
18:00-18:15

Tuesday 05/07:
13:30-13:45
16:00-16:15
18:45-19:00 (canceled)

In her latest performance, Betist is accompanied by a different classically trained singers every day, for five days. The performance starts in imbalance as the singers do not know the lyrics, melody and intensity, while the artist has no experience with live song. At the start of the performance, Betist sings the first lines repeatedly until the other singer feels like she has a grip over the piece, at which she will join in. Through mirroring and repetition they change the sung monologue of feelings into a dialogue of reactions. The rhythm, tempo and feel changes as the performance continues.

The space in which the performance will be held is usually closed during the graduation show. Placed in it are (neo-)classicist/baroque plaster sculptures that were made by and for men, as they were used during drawing lessons. Classes that only men could attend. The interesting thing is that women were only allowed to study “teacher of drawing” at the academy, rather than drawing itself (or anything else artistic for that matter). It is really a male dominated space. Therefore, the fact that two women will perform the work with each other is stressed. So that there would exist a temporal sculpture of song echoing through the space. A female counter voice in the midst of male gazes aiming to find balance in the (re)presented imbalance of the space and score.

The title refers to the presence of male dominance in both Betist's personal life as well as the Gipsenzaal, the room in which the performance is held. Historically, the plaster sculptures in this room were acquired for drawingclasses that only men were allowed to attend. Women could follow courses to become "Teacher of Drawing", they were not allowed to study any artistic practice. The performance aims to leave a female countervoice, through a sculpture of song. Attempting to find balance in imbalance.