photo credit: Jolanta Ponton

INVASIVE SPECIES
public intervention/performance, duration: 50 min
2024.10 Stre!fen Performance Art Festival, curated by Emrah Gökdemir, Sebastian Hänel, Görlitz, Germany

In this performance, I take on the role of a masked, alien entity symbolizing an invasive species, entering the public space of the city and addressing tensions related to migration and belonging. Like an insect, I construct a cocoon – a metaphorical shelter that enables metamorphosis and transformation. The cocoon becomes both a space for introspection and a symbol of personal and social transformation. The performance situates the theme of migration within the broader context of what it means to "belong" – both to the environment and to the human community.

While building the cocoon, I hold a watermelon, an allusion to the conflict in the Middle East, where we also encounter invasion – one human tribe encroaching on another. The act of attempting to protect the watermelon during the performance illustrates the struggle to preserve integrity and values in the face of destructive forces. At one point, the watermelon slips from my hands and shatters on the ground, marking the performance’s finale. This moment serves as a symbolic closure, emphasizing the fragility of both personal and social processes of transformation.

The cocoon becomes the central symbol of the performance. It is a metaphor for renewal, shelter, and the possibility of change. In my view, humanity as a species does not fully realize its potential – the proclaimed humanitarian values often conflict with actual actions. The process of building the cocoon symbolizes the effort required to make these values tangible. For me, it represents the aspiration to become fully human, with actions aligned with declared values: care, love, and the celebration of life. The act of dancing at a height, requiring precision and risk, illustrates the challenges of personal and social transformation.

When I ask the audience for help in holding the ladder, their immediate willingness to collaborate reveals a fundamental element of any transformation – both individual and global – which is cooperation. The assistance from the audience becomes a symbolic act of mutual support that enables the achievement of a shared goal. The performance emphasizes that metamorphosis requires communal effort and the commitment of all parties involved.

Invasive Species is a performance that oscillates between intimacy and exposure, solitude and community. It raises questions about our responsibilities toward one another and the world we co-create. The process of building the cocoon in an urban space is an act of survival and striving for a better future, while simultaneously reminding us of the necessity of collaboration and care in this process. The performance becomes an opportunity to reflect on our place in the world, the boundaries of our actions, and the potential for their transformation.