Second Encounter

21 June 2017 at 7 pm at the Kortil Gallery

The second encounter was between blind people and those with eyesight difficulties, with representative Tomislav Lilić as a performing collaborator and musician Enver Krivac. The second encounter is conceptually based on touch communication, tactile listening, and sensory interconnection with others and oneself, addressing the needs of blind and partially sighted as well as the obstacles they encounter. The emphasis is on stimulation of hearing, imagination and the awakening of the participants bodies through contact and (non) verbal communication; but also through contact with music, through body response to music and sound in space. Provided music is sufficiently abstract, which allows the mind/body to create its own interpretation and meaning. It does not impose on the performers, despite its serving as a guide and a shaper of movement/body; it is sufficiently abstract for being a non- classic source of choreography but rather something that stimulates its own interpretation. Through the initiation and release of the body, thought, experience, voice and speech are liberated; through physical contact and the emergence of mutual constellations, there is also a stronger connection between the people.

The structure of the Second Encounter was consisted of:

1) an audio-dance section in the empty space of the gallery, weaker and sporadically illuminated, which audience had the opportunity to watch, listen to and experience;
2) the interactive part in which the audience was involved in, and, through motion and touch contact, had experienced experientially, that which was experienced in the first part by observing/listening/feeling;
3) individual reflections where all authors and the audience reflect on the experience, at the same time, through writing (Braille typewriter) or drawing them;
4 ) shared reflection through a conversation about experiencing and socializing.

Choreographer and author: Ivana Peranić
Performers: Tomislav Lilić and Ivana Peranić
Music: Enver Krivac
Partners: Association of Blind and Visually Impaired, Primorsko-goranska County, the Kortil Live Initiative.
Production: KRILA Creative Theater Laboratory in conjunction with Kortil Gallery

The project was supported by the City of Rijeka and the ‘Nova Kultura’ Foundation

Records and impressions of the audience:

“Fantastic body game. Compliance, sensitivity, security. You fascinated me all, and especially Tomo who does not see anything, but he feels and follows music, and his partner. Something new, unseen so far, gives a strong impression, you want to watch even more! Bravo to everyone and thank you all!” Zdenka

“I liked the body game. As a person with a small residue of sight, in such a space I would only feel relaxed if I had a lot of confidence in a person who sees. You did just that by touch.” Boris

“That skin is soft and gentle and is not mine. It occupies space, while the sound of rough strings wipes the air that will soon run out. When I open my eyes, I’m completely present and I’m smiling at my dancing partner. She shines.” Tea

“It overcomes the whole body … music, movements, touch … relaxation … The body sails through music, movement appear on their own … touch contact with another person and joint mutual movements lead to connecting, relaxation, emotion, and some sort of spirituality. All together it brings a relaxing trance. Life!” Enza

“Two bodies, two souls, are joined together. Just perfect. Full of emotion … It just bursts with emotion … At the end – peace, endless peace in bodies and souls. “(Anonymous) “Incredible. Unreal. Captivating. Fascinating. “(Anonymous)” It was nice and quiet in the dark and in the silence.” (Anonymous)