Whispers of the Still
2024
Co-authors:
Anna Diessner / Zero Minglin He / YuanYuan Hu
Co-performers:
Zero Minglin He / YuanYuan Hu
Sound Design:
Bryan Yueshen Wu
exhibited & performed at:
Ars Electronica
September 2024
@POSTCITY ; Linz, AT
| Group Exhibition
Making-With
March 2024
@Science Gallery London; London, UK
| Group Exhibition
“Whispers from the Still” portrays a speculative future from the perspective of non-human beings and provides a glimpse into a world in which wind no longer exists. This intimate installation, featuring fabrics adorned with poetry, invites visitors into a contemplative space.
Through the words of non-human beings the installation evokes a sense of insignificance of humans, emphasising the profound importance of wind as a resource and the potential consequences of its absence.
Wind is not directly mentioned in the poems enhancing the viewer’s role and compelling them to interpret the nuanced narrative of this alternative world.
Touching the poems, the visitor is transported into the world of despair of the non-humans through sound. Whispers from the Still challenges viewers to confront the fragility of natural forces and allows them to reflect on their role in an ever-evolving world.
Diessner, A. (2024) Science Gallery Exhibition 1-6 [Photograph]
In our performance piece, we explore the human experience in a world without wind, echoing the themes of our piece “Whispers from the Still.” As individuals in this speculative future, we embody the struggle of trying to adapt to a landscape where wind, once a vital force, is absent.
The performance unfolds as a narrative of human resilience and vulnerability. Each performer represents a person in this windless world, attempting to recreate the wind. Through seemingly simple breathing movements, we illustrate the absurdity of human attempts to recreate nature forces.
One by one, we come to terms with our powerlessness and symbolically fall to the ground. Before descending, each performer touches the fabrics from our exhibition, which then trigers the sound, signifying acceptance of our circumstances and the interconnectedness of humanity and the environment.
Our performance aims to provoke reflection, urging viewers to consider the consequences of environmental degradation.
Diessner, A. (2024) Science Gallery Live Performance [Photograph]