DAS FLÜSSIGE ZWISCHEN UNS

THE LIQUID BETWEEN US
The invisible but audible. Close and still isolated.

Interdisciplinary opera performance by Bahzad Sulaiman
World premiere was June 30, 2023.
Saarlandmuseum, Modern Gallery, Saarbrücken, Germany.

© Lukas Ratius

Cross-border and multicultural! In the Modern Gallery of the Saarlandmuseum, an extraordinary performance of “THE LIQUID BETWEEN US” by Bahzad Sulaiman awaits visitors from June 30 to July 2, on 3 days, each at 7 pm. The project gathers 13 artists (dancers and opera singers) from 11 different nationalities.

In search of new forms of expression during and after the pandemic, performance maker Bahzad Sulaiman explored the invisible boundaries of interpersonal contact. The result is an interdisciplinary opera performance that interprets the forms of relationship between human bodies in public space through movement, vocal expression and language.

“THE LIQUID BETWEEN US” poses questions related to the physical and psychological distance between people in society. In doing so, the performance focuses particularly on persons diagnosed with social anxiety (social phobia) or autism spectrum. In this context, the performance questions human behavior and its effects. “Disorder” is also considered here as a social, psychological, and behavioral phenomenon.

The spoken and emotional levels of Johanna Kotlaris‘ texts and Rúben Borges‘ composition create an experiential space in which contemplation and active listening emerge through sound, singing and movement.

Concept and staging: Bahzad Sulaiman
Music composition: Rúben Borges
Libretto: Johanna Kotlaris

Performers:
Panajotis Ampartzakis, Vera Bundschuh, Márton Debreczenyi, Chara Giannou, Burak Karaoğlanoğlu, Eunbi Lee, Marcello Musini, Paula Niehoff, Viktoria Nikolova, Maris Pajuste, Katharina Reimann and Bas Van Damme.

Duration: 1 hour, no break
In German language

The project is supported by:

The Ministry of Education and Culture of Saarland, Landeshauptstadt Saarbrücken, Stiftung Saarländischer Kulturbesitz, Rotary Club Homburg-Saarpfalz, Saarland-Sporttoto GmbH, Arbeit und Kultur Saarland gGmbH, Haus Afrika eV, YEKITI SAARBRÜCKEN eV and HBKsaar.