Echo

First presented as a solo for Jeanette “Joy” Harris and Molly Kohen’s “Of Infinite Elastic,” Echo is a movement performance and physical theater piece reflecting on current geopolitical tensions and its similar ambience of the Cold War. The piece is presenting obscurity through both the visual presentation of the body and the sound piece spliced from short wave radio signals. Vik speaks on the piece: "I thought about the steady demonization and political alienation of allied powers post the second world war. The number stations I used were specific, one being broadcasted coincidentally 2-3 days before the attempted coup in Russia in 1991. I wanted to emphasize this looking backward to look forward, but covertly. This is why the performer or performers are seen to be cronenberg-like, exhibiting this body contortion."

The conceptual process is rooted in Vik’s engagement in political history of a post war society and American mass media propaganda. Number stations or short wave radio signals are relics of wars brutal past, but hold an ominous tone that still effects our relation to conflict,. The use of German, Russian and NATO signals reaches back to a history not distant enough to feel safe from. Echo is an ongoing research piece.

Thank you to Kylie and Sarah Sivley (videographers and photographers) Video rights belong to Joy Harris.