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16:30
27.
05

BRAVE NEW BODY

„Operomanija“
Grand Hall
Duration 1.05 (without intermission)

Premiere 2022

Corporate dystopia / Probiotic ecotopia for voices

Script, action Žygimantas Kudirka
Music, action Arturas Bumšteinas
Action assistant Giedrė Kriaučionytė
Chormeister Algimantas Kriūnas
Costumes Juozas Valenta
Graphic design Mindaugas Gavrilovas
VJ Vytautas Narbutas
Lights Julius Kuršis
Sound Ignas Juzokas
Producer „Operomanija“
Partner state ensemble “Lietuva”

Choir artists of state ensemble “Lietuva”: Ilona Pliavgo, Viktorija Šedbaraitė, Rima Žukauskienė, Laura Stančikaitė, Irena Kerulienė, Gintarė Kulikauskytė, Daiva Čepulionienė, Estera Paukštytė-Penkaitienė, Saulius Vasiliauskis, Zenius Sakalauskas, Osvaldas Petraška, Ramūnas Juknevičius, Donatas Kaikaris, Rokas Jasikas

“Brave New Body” is the result of an unexpected collaboration between two eccentric artists: composer Arturas Bumšteinas and artist Žygimantas Kudirka.

Combining social criticism, science fiction, and absurd genre, this corporate dystopia for voices addresses the ever-problematic relation of a human being towards his / her body. Illusions rendered by diverse industries form unfounded expectations as to how we should look, while our presence on social networks results in an endless comparison of our own body against numerous other bodies. Paradoxically, we often strive to be similar to non-existent, digitally altered body images.

Do not worry. Corporate dystopia will reveal a new technology allowing to transfer oneself into another body or the body of another. Hypnotic polyphonic sutartinės will serve as a kind of anaesthetic while lying under the “beauty knife”, submerging into a dream invoked by deep sedation. You will see perhaps a vision, prophetic perhaps, where the humanity of the future finally finds a way to get rid of the ever unsatisfactory biological bodies and acquire “brave new” ones.

It seems to be the promised land where the souls soar free, acquiring any desired form. You have become a racing motorcycle and feel way sportier? You have turned into an air humidifier, and your inner self is full of harmonious tranquillity? Having transformed into most unexpected things and gadgets, the souls celebrate their liberation from the old body, singing sutartinės about their new being. At first glance, it is a never-ending feast celebrating brave new bodies. And yet, what was it that encouraged people to get rid of that unique, nearly miraculous biological body capable of curing its wounds and growing broken bones together?

Script, action

Žygimantas Kudirka is a writer, artist and performer in the fields of interactive poetry, artificial languages and avantgarde rap trying to find the universal dialect that could be understood by plants and animals and babies and the future links of evolution. His works often take on unexpected forms: alternate reality audio guides, radio plays created for the car interior, hacking the media or interactive experiences. Has published an interactive poetry book, released seven music albums, makes constant appearances in contemporary art shows (incl. Baltic Triennial and Venice Biennial), has won multiple awards in the fields of music (incl. Alternative music artist of the year), advertising (incl. Cannes Lions Silver), visuals (incl. Music video of the year) and literature (incl. Best European slam poet). Has participated in hundreds of local events in native tongue, performed abroad in English and artificial languages: Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, UK, France, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Israel, Hong Kong.

Music, action

Arturas Bumšteinas (b. 1982, Vilnius) is Lithuanian artist working within the intersections of music and art. His practices could be divided into several categories: experimental music, acoustic sound works, installations, pieces for theatre, radio art, curating. In mid-90’s Arturas was the first Lithuanian artist to use internet to gather sound material from around the world. He is initiator of various musical projects and since 2000 he has collaborated with different artists like Anton Lukoszevieze, Vladimir Tarasov, Krystian Lupa, Žilvinas Kempinas, Gintautas Trimakas, Lina Lapelytė, Vaiva Grainytė, Gailė Griciūtė, Laura Garbštienė, Piotr Kurek, Ivan Cheng. Arturas’ projects were presented in various venues in Europe and his solo exhibitions have been held at Vilnius Contemporary Art Center, Vartai Gallery, AV17, Galerie Antje Wachs Berlin and at various residencies around Europe. In 2017 Bumšteinas was artist-in-residence at the DAAD Berliner Künstlerprogramm and in 2021-2022 he was residing in Camargo Foundation. Festivals where his art-music projects were presented include The Holland Festival, Unsound, Tectonics, Angelica, Ultima, HCMF, Vilnius Jazz, Kody, Skanumezs, Cut & Splice, Sacrum Profanum, Ultraschall, Sonic Circuits in USA etc. His music is published by labels such as Bolt, Cronica, Unsounds, Edition Telemark and others. In 2013 he was awarded EURORADIO “Palma Ars Acustica” prize for his radio art and a Golden Stage Cross for his theatre work in 2021. Since 2021 Arturas plays with his improv group Sneeze Etiquette.