Pieter De Buysser & Hans Op de Beeck
Book Burning
Book Burning is a joint project by visual artist Hans Op de Beeck and author and performer Pieter De Buysser, both from Belgium. Op de Beeck has created an initially inconspicuous chest that mutates into a mysterious cabinet of wonders, out of which scary yet beautiful still lifes are conjured over the course of the show. In the centre of this art installation, De Buysser tells a story positioned between frightening fairy tales and fast-paced road movie. He speaks about a friend whom he got to know during a demonstration of the Occupy Movement and the Indignados (the indignant) in Brussels: Sebastian. He is complemented by his daughter Tilda, a young Indignado by the name of Nobody and the smart storyteller Kat Schrödinger, all four represented by De Buysser. In view of the availability of vast amounts of data on the WWW, both artists present a suggestion – one with his installation, the other with his performance – on how to deal with the endless amount of information. It is all about the need to find filters and to reorganise what has meanwhile become a confusing amount of information as well as the right to informational self-determination. However, Book Burning is also a project about the desire to being able to delete one’s own profile, and about the rights to one’s own DNA code. While book burnings have been always acts of censorship historically, with De Buysser and Op de Beeck they turn to an act of liberation. www.pieterdebuysser.com, www.hansopdebeeck.com
Audience talk on 12 October following the event.
Concept Pieter De Buysser & Hans Op de Beeck Photos Hans Op de Beeck Text and performance Pieter De Buysser Lighting design and technology Herman Sorgeloos Dramaturgy Marianne Van Kerkhoven (Kaaitheater) Language coach English Miles O’Shea Production Margarita Production
A co-production of Pieter de Buysser & Hans Op de Beeck and brut Wien, Kunstenfestivaldesarts Brussels, Kaaitheater Brussels, Baltoscandal International Theatre Festival Rakvere, Belluard Bollwerk International Freiburg, Teaterhuset Avant Garden Trondheim, Bit Teatergarasjen Bergen. A co-production with NXTSTP. NXTSTP is supported by the European Commission. With the kind support of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek van België, of the Göteborg Dance & Theatre Festivals and the Flemish government.
Book Burning from Margarita Production on Vimeo.