INTENTION.
The performance (in collaboration with Turba collective) "Ghir Wahed " translatable as "just
one" in Moroccan Arabic, explores the social and physical
mechanisms inherent to the individual within a crowd. By
creating a sensory experience, the performance transposes
crowd dynamics onto a smaller scale group. This process
aims to shed light on the codes and functions that govern
collective identity, the transmission of rhythms, as well as the creation of individual or shared
spaces.
"Ghir Wahed" explores these unconscious
adaptation mechanisms, revealing the loss of
individuality within the crowd and the social masks that result, while also uncovering the intimate bonds that can exist within a group. This research
posits that these unconscious adaptation mechanisms
traverse time, cultures, and countries, although the
outcomes they produce may vary. Thus, each individual is
unconsciously led to adapt to the group, generally following
similar mechanisms, yet the combination of members
shapes the group in a unique way.
DESCRIPTION.
The performance unfolds through the creation of plaster
masks, crafted by visual artists, that deprive the performers
of their sight. This intense sensory experience induces a
meditative state, fostering the development of non-verbal
communication among individuals. Clad in these white
masks, participants are compelled to keep their eyelids
closed, thereby reinforcing their group identity. Other
senses such as smell, hearing, and touch are heightened,
immersing the performers in extreme concentration, akin to
that required in an actual crowd.
Each presentation of "Ghir Wahed" is unique, influenced by
various factors such as the space, the audience, and
unforeseen events. The performance, designed in the form
of a score, incorporates elements of chance, contributing to
creating a distinctive experience at each representation.
Participants find themselves confronted with solitude and a
loss of bearings; their movements slow down, and every
interaction with another body becomes a significant event.
This choreographic construction allows for unconscious
interactions, giving rise to strange mimetic behaviors among
the performers.
