A Check for Table Manners

During the finissage of sculpture parade Und jetzt kommen die Kamele I presented a new live performance that emerged from a special collaboration: with artist/musician Dominique Zwartelé and Antonia Kuhn and Claire Latosinsky, both studying voice at the Conservatory of Amsterdam.

Starting point for the performance was the object in the sculpture parade: a flagpole holding 18 ribbons, printed with lines from A Check for Table Manners. A strange collection of rules, spelling out what we must not do when sitting at the table.

We must not slouch in our chairs.
We must not sip beverage from a spoon
We must not…

In front of the flagpole Antonia Kuhn and Claire Latosinksy delivered the full text of this list of table manners in synchrony, guided by a metronome only.

The need to deliver the words simultaneously on the spot, forces to refrain from individual expression, mirroring the social construct to abide by the rules.

For the second act, a graphic score was added to the flagpole, transforming it into a music stand. And suddenly the object became the centre of the performance. The score contained a set of instruction, but also an invitation to listen, respond and improvise.