One day I’m gonna make the onion cry #6

Saxon Switzerland, Wehlen, Germany 2019
Art project OUTSIDEININSIDEOUTINSIDEOUTOUTSIDEIN
Invited by Dirk Grosser, Alois Yang, Aliaksandra Yakubouskaya
Duration: 34 minutes
Photographs by Monika Deimling

Context:

Performing within the breathtaking landscape of Saxon Switzerland (Sächsische Schweiz) had long been a dream. This rugged region, known for its dramatic rock formations, deep forests, and meandering creeks, offers a setting where nature itself becomes a vital part of artistic expression.

In the town of Wehlen – nestled along the banks of the Elbe and part of Saxon Switzerland – German artist and curator Dirk Großer runs the Torhaus Gallery. Serving as the headquarters for an art project, the gallery became a focal point for performances, video screenings, and exhibitions that engaged directly with the surrounding landscape.

For my performance, I selected a striking rock formation visible from the main forest path. A small, dried-up riverbed lay between the audience and my chosen site, creating an intriguing spatial distance. The performance unfolded on top of, around, and within the rock, weaving movement into the geological contours.

Description of actions:
A collage of performance images and sounds is created by executing the following actions with selected material.

– Standing high up on a rock lifting and lowering both arms. [On the arms are colorful cloths attached that fly according to the arm movements.]
– Presenting two large eye-like objects to the audience. [From down the rock formation looked like a huge face.]
– Throwing little blue parachutes down from the rock. [The many blue parachutes glide gently from the rock on the ground.]
– Creating a line on the body moving the hand with yellow paint over the head down to the belly while slowly walking down the rock.
– Rattling a bunch of empty, silver cans. [The valley created an echo.]
– Pulling out a long red fabric out of a creak in the rock. [From afar it looks like as if the face would show us its tongue.]
– Trying to pull out a tree with all force by using a rope.
– Putting a white cardboard house on the head and sitting on a swing made with rope between two trees.
– Lying on the ground and rolling an old wagon over the body.
– Placing an orange watering can over my head; lighting a smoke torch placed at the nose of the watering can. [Out of the watering can orange smoke is flying.]
– Pulling the wagon behind on which the sliver cans are attached, while leaving the scene. [The sounds of the rattling cans fades away like the orange smoke disappears.]