The BURST Artistic Research is the basis for the development of an interdisciplinary performance project. The research is based on conversations with people who have suffered different types of discrimination (sexism, racism, queerphobia, xenophobia, among others). We looked for organizations and people who deal with the topic and who would be interested in sharing their stories with us in order to raise awareness of the issue. We also launched an open call, which allowed us to reach a broader spectrum of people.

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Interviews

To prepare the interviews, we not only conducted in-depth research on the topic, but also drew on the artists' personal experiences. Most of the questions were formulated in such a way that they could be related to any kind of discrimination. This corresponds to one of the central ideas of BURST: working out the commonalities in the experiences that make people feel similar - regardless of the form of discrimination. Showing how the experience of being outside the mainstream society, resisting categorizations, norms and binaries, connect those different individuals.

 

BURST also defies general definitions for identity groups and captures the complexity of personal experiences in conversations with people who face discrimination. In this sense, individual differences are also taken into account. Dealing with intersectionality brings with it the complexity of the topic.

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Fourteen hours of interview material was collected from a diverse group with many intersectional identities. It was very important to create a comfortable environment and a safe space in which experiences could be shared. We believe allowing vulnerability to be a political and emancipatory act in a society where appearances and superficiality are highly valued. It reminds us of our own humanity and allows us to meet each other on a deeper level.

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Processing the material

The processing of the material started with editing it and dividing it into different thematic areas and levels of relevance. The content was then selected in relation to the different sections of the performance. Short excerpts from the selected material were used in the music, the longer content in the sound installation and/or video screening.

 

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Movement Research

​The research continued in the dance studio. The sound material was analyzed on several levels: meaning, musicality of the voices, and the feelings evoked. We then related it to the performers' personal experiences of discrimination and the way they process their experiences and feelings through movement. The physical expression of the interviewees selected from the video material was integrated into the movements. From these tasks and experiments, the score of the improvisation and the choreographic material were developed.