July WEBER

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July WEBER

Participating Project	Institutional Recommendation Program
Activity Based	Berlin
City	Tokyo
Period	2024.3

Purpose of the residency

After the online residency in 2021 due to the restrictions of Covid, I finally want to come to Tokyo in person and continue the research of constructing ways of communication with extraterrestrials. I want to build on the movement research I developed during the pandemic, which could only manifest in the medium of video and bring it into an analog live-performance in collaboration with sound-artist Macarena Fuentes. We will investigate into questions of how the unknown body of an alien would produce and perceive sounds, especially as in outer space, due to the lack of atoms and molecules, sound has no way to travel. I intend to develop a group of sculptures which function as body-extentions and gateways to support installing a connection to outer space. The sculptures will work as resonators that amplify the movement and translate them into a code that speaks to the extraterrestrial. Our interest lies here particularly in the symbiosis and possible mutual interaction between the solid sculpture, ephemeral dance and intangible sound.

Plan during the residency

After arrival, we will get to know the environment and start working on our research in relation to what we encounter in this unknown context. We will analyze which form and materiality can serve best the purposes of the sculptures. Finally, we will investigate which format and location would suit the work for the Open Studio presentation without disturbing the other artists in the building and in the exhibition, which could also include unconventional areas of TOKAS or even the public space.

Activities during the residency

After arrival, we got to know the new environment and started working on our research of building connections with extraterrestrials. We analyzed which form and materiality would serve best the purposes of the sculptures/body-extentions.
Finally we used bamboo, a common local material, combined with materials we found in the studio and some elements we brought from Berlin. We investigated into more scientific topics around outer space and sound-waves and built an unusual connection to the religious phenomena of angels, as supernatural agents between the terrestrial and extraterrestrial. We decided to do a performance consisting of 2 main parts – The first part used the format of an academic lecture with mainly text and sound-effects and the second part was a more physical exploration in combination with a sound-journey. The first part was completely choreographed, as the second part had clear scores and defined material, but more freedom to play and combine these elements in the moment. We performed 3 times and each round was different and exciting.

Outcome of the residency

Through the research of the residency, I got very interested in the biblical topic of the 7 trumpets of the apocalypse and could imagine to continue with this and develop a new work.

Creator Information