Entlebuch: exploring a stage for trans-disciplinary storytelling
In order to think about trans-disciplinary storytelling, our collective ANTHROPOS EX started a phase of research and events in Heiligkreuz, UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch, CH in 2021. Our question was: can a site, a specific territory become the ground and stage for trans-disciplinary reserach? How would we get to know the site, how would we read is as a stage and who would the non-human and human protagonists be?
As, of course the site is not an empty backdrop. It already is the dwelling place for many beings, human and non-human, for politics of ecology, for tourism and agriculture, for culture and art.
In March 2022, the gathering with students from ETH and ZHdK on site in Entlebuch Heiligkreiz marked the beginning of our workshop series 2022. We discussed methological differences and similarities and tested tools for trans-disciplinary research.
We asked:
How do you perceive a protagonist in a landscape that shapes this very landscape?
How would you mediate its existence and influence towards an audience?
How do you enter a cubic kilometre as a stage to look out for protagonists?
(Progaonist = non-human, human, entangled, something in between..?)
If we were to take the shift of the human being’s position within the cosmos seriously which we face in the light of the so-called ecological crisis – which effects would occur for theatre, scenography and the design of space?
This block seminar, a cooperation between ADSZ, the Bio Design Lab and the theatre project ANTHROPOS EX, was dedicated to problems of scenography in the age of the Anthropocene: In a theoretical introduction, we will dealt with concepts of a human-world structure after modernity based on texts by Bruno Latour, Frank Raddatz, Anna Tsing, Frederique Ait-Touati and others. In addition, an excursion to the Entlebuch Biosphere in Switzerland took place in June 2022. There, we confronted ANTHROPOS EX research on a specific landscape as a stage and protagonist and their narratives of the place and the intertwining of humans and non-humans. If one takes this attempt seriously, all definitions, time dimensions and appointments about theatre must be radically questioned, especially the importance of the stage set: What would a scenographic approach look like through which materiality, place and landscape tell about themselves? Therefore we worked together with local and traditional forms of knowledge in Entlebuch as well as exchanged ideas with scientists and students from other universities (ETH, ZHdK). It culminated in first conceptual ideas and try-outs, grasping challenges and formulating questions as well as approaches, presented in an exhibition on site.
Juhee Han - exploring the pigeon's perspective
Wei Wang - what is the opposite of 'stage'?
Lara Thuernau - costume and performance that gather and return materials
Shih Ting Wang - different viewpoints
Laura Haak - the orange square
21/06/2022
followed by a casual get-together
Schüür Heiligkreuz, Hasle LU, Switzerland
This culminating event drew together our experiences of the last months of exploring, together with our many collaborators, the landscape of the Entlebuch - or, more precisely, one cubic kilometre of Entlebuch! We were joined by the local communitites and international stakeholders to share our research, music pieces, local art forms, performances and many more formats.
Program:
4pm-6pm, Open Space
Transdisciplinary Case Study “Biosphere Entlebuch – Culture and Environment” (ETH and ZHdK Zürich)
6pm-9pm Evening program
Introduction to local folk music by Simone Felber
Music by Matthias Arrignon, Caroline Baur, Sven Bühler, Vanessà Heer, Sangyi Lee, Linda Oelmann
Installations by students of the department of scenography of University of Arts and Design Karlsruhe
Controbution by ANTHROPOS EX
Entlebuch: exploring a stage for trans-disciplinary storytelling
In order to think about trans-disciplinary storytelling, our collective ANTHROPOS EX started a phase of research and events in Heiligkreuz, UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch, CH in 2021. Our question was: can a site, a specific territory become the ground and stage for trans-disciplinary reserach? How would we get to know the site, how would we read is as a stage and who would the non-human and human protagonists be?
As, of course the site is not an empty backdrop. It already is the dwelling place for many beings, human and non-human, for politics of ecology, for tourism and agriculture, for culture and art.
In March 2022, the gathering with students from ETH and ZHdK on site in Entlebuch Heiligkreiz marked the beginning of our workshop series 2022. We discussed methological differences and similarities and tested tools for trans-disciplinary research.
We asked:
How do you perceive a protagonist in a landscape that shapes this very landscape?
How would you mediate its existence and influence towards an audience?
How do you enter a cubic kilometre as a stage to look out for protagonists?
(Progaonist = non-human, human, entangled, something in between..?)
If we were to take the shift of the human being’s position within the cosmos seriously which we face in the light of the so-called ecological crisis – which effects would occur for theatre, scenography and the design of space?
This block seminar, a cooperation between ADSZ, the Bio Design Lab and the theatre project ANTHROPOS EX, was dedicated to problems of scenography in the age of the Anthropocene: In a theoretical introduction, we will dealt with concepts of a human-world structure after modernity based on texts by Bruno Latour, Frank Raddatz, Anna Tsing, Frederique Ait-Touati and others. In addition, an excursion to the Entlebuch Biosphere in Switzerland took place in June 2022. There, we confronted ANTHROPOS EX research on a specific landscape as a stage and protagonist and their narratives of the place and the intertwining of humans and non-humans. If one takes this attempt seriously, all definitions, time dimensions and appointments about theatre must be radically questioned, especially the importance of the stage set: What would a scenographic approach look like through which materiality, place and landscape tell about themselves? Therefore we worked together with local and traditional forms of knowledge in Entlebuch as well as exchanged ideas with scientists and students from other universities (ETH, ZHdK). It culminated in first conceptual ideas and try-outs, grasping challenges and formulating questions as well as approaches, presented in an exhibition on site.