#peripheral visions

Both being performance artists from 'the periphery', i.e, not from the centres of cultural and political power that are laid claim to by the USA and Western Europe, 'Peripery Visions' was a concept of embodying the voices of artists from the 'outside'. Alexa and Samin invited artists from their own networks who come from, and work in, countries outside of these power centres, and invited them to contribute something to a performance that the two of them would then embody and present in the power centre of Berlin. Under the understanding that their contributions would be dealt with by Alexa and Samin, the 25 chosen artists offered texts, sound pieces, videos, images, clothing, objects, questions, directions and various other elements to the project. These submissions were offerings, support to the project that they had the power to enable to happen, an opportunity to be represented in the 'inside' from the 'outside'.

Samin then flew to Berlin, the cultural power centre, to begin working hands on with Alexa to incorporate all of these voices into a performance. An intense month pursued, which culminated in their first out of five performances, performed on Thursday May 14th at the MPA­B Hub, Meinblau. Laid across the floor of the gallery space were various items including a United States Flag, a selection of essential oils, plaster masks, a painting of a young girl crying and several pieces of clothing. The hour­long performance was a timeline of chapters that engaged (activated) the various items in the space, movement, dialogue between the two artists and, at times, also with the audience, readings, sound pieces, film etc. The hour could be characterised as dramatic, angry and confusing, as could be expected from an attempt to embody 25 artists in one piece.

I was expecting to witness the frustrations of the ‘peripheral voices’, but what I took away with me from the experience was the process that Alexa and Samin had been through and their relationship during this journey. At times during the performance they stood intimately close, facing each other and asked the big questions; 'Are you happy?', 'Do they understand it?', 'Is there order in the chaos'. The questions were mostly related to the present moment and their own feelings, their relationship to each other, and us, their audience. They enclosed themselves into their own world, and responding to abstract questions with concrete positive answers. It was as though they were reassuring each other and making sure they both felt safe, reminding the audience of the people and voices behind the movements and noises. And in this way, they introduced some order to the chaos. In these moments I felt that they were the power centre, and we were the periphery.

There were also more intimate moments, where they held each other or lay down together. This is the first time they have worked together, which must also have formed their relationship. They seemed so comfortable with one another, and I wondered how quickly their knowledge of, and ease with each other, had developed from their first 'rehearsal'. It was as though they now only had each other, facing the Cultural Power Centre together, relying on their mutual support. Taking on the many 'voices' of the periphery, their responsibility was huge, and thus the risk of 'failure' was greater as so much more was at stake. They were vulnerable and they protected each other.