Michel Groisman – Showcase
“I first saw Michel at the 2002 Intransit Festival in Berlin and was completely transfixed by his pure, inquisitive, and intimate performative games and am honored to present him as part of his first US tour with the support of NPN’s Performing Americas Program.” – Vallejo Gantner, PS122 Artistic Director
As part of his first US tour, Brazilian artist Michel Groisman brings two singular pieces and several interactive and intimate experiences for children and adults to the Invisible Dog Art Center in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.
By devising wearable apparatuses and sculpting his body to test the endurance and nature of the solitary human form, Groisman’s soulful performances and investigative group experiences challenge preconceptions of performance and play on the values of confidence and exchange.
Porta das Maos (Door of Hands)
A performance (and a game) in which Groisman explores the possibilities of movement and shape when restricted to two fingers from one hand remaining connected to two fingers on the other. Subtle yet transfixing, Door of Hands is an endless dance to examine and then attempt on your own. Alexander Technique coaching: Gabriela Duvivier
Wednesday 9/21 8PM / Friday, September 23 9:30PM
Transferencia (Transference)
A performance in which candles are attached to Michel Groisman’s body made possible by a series of leather straps and tubing. In one continuous action, candles are lit and extinguished in a constant ritual of fire and breath. Alexander Technique coaching: Gabriela Duvivier
Thursday, September 22 8PM / Friday, September 23 7PM
Sirva-se (Serve Yourself)
FREE – Reservations encouraged
A group experience in which participants are invited to place specially designed glasses on various parts of their body. With the glasses in position, water is used as a mean of communication between people, passed from one to another, the possibilities of such a transfer are explored. Co-created with Gabriela Duvivier
Wednesday, September 21 3 – 5PM (recommended for families w/ children) / Thursday, September 22 9:30PM (for attendees of Transferencia) / Sunday, September 25 2 – 4PM
Polvo (Octopus)
FREE – Reservations encouraged
A card game in which players are dealt body parts instead of numbers in suit. Players will combine their own cards and reproduce the combinations with their own body. When a combination is impossible to be made alone the player may borrow a part of someone else’s body to be able to continue to play.
Saturday, September 24 1 – 5PM (recommended for families w/ children) / Saturday, September 24 8PM (for attendees of the Long Table Discussion)
A Long Table on Proximity
FREE – Reservations encouraged
The Long Table is an experimental public forum originally developed by performance artist Lois Weaver. The Long Table experiments with participation and public engagement by re-appropriating a dinner table atmosphere as a public forum, and encouraging informal conversations on serious topics. It is literally a very long table set up with chairs and refreshments where anyone and everyone is welcome to come to the table, ask questions, make statements, leave comments, or simply sit, listen and watch.
To be held 2 doors down from The Invisible Dog @ 61 Local, 61 Bergen Street Boerum Hill, Brooklyn.
Saturday, September 24 6PM
More about Michel Groisman
The interdisciplinary nature of Michel Groisman’s work has earned him art research scholarships from several institutions, including Rioarte (2004), Vitae (2002) and Uniarte da Faperj (2000). His work has been shown in museums and performance festivals including: Tempo exhibition, MOMA in New York; II Biennial of Lima; Festival de La Batiê, in Geneve; Festival InTransit, in Berlin; Desviaciones, in Madrid; and Encontros Acarte in Lisbon, among others. Since 2004 he has been developing partnerships with Gabriela Duvivier, improv coach and Alexander Technique teacher, and with Sung Pyo Hung, photographer and video maker. Recently Groisman developed a project that has been awarded by the Rumos Dance of Itaú Cultural and participated in the 29 Biennial of São Paulo.
September 21 – 25, 2011
The Invisible Dog Art Center, 51 Bergen St., Brooklyn NY
Body Installation | NY Premiere | Brazil
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All performances and activities in English
Invisible Dog recommends these bars & restaurants in Boerum Hill
Made possible by the Performing Americas Program (PAP), a partnership between the National Performance Network (NPN) and the Network of Cultural Promoters of Latin America and the Caribbean (La RED).
Photo of Michel Groisman’s ‘Transferencia’ taken by Marise Farias