Alternative reality workshop with Lucija Klarić / Split, September 8th 2021

Alternative reality workshop consists of creation of a collective imaginary that offers an alienated view of real spaces and dissolves the possibility of reinterpreting our reality. In the first part of the work-shop, using the methodology of LARP games, together we tried to reach a consensus on who we are, what we are and why we are here. This scenario, before we upgraded it, implied several conditions: one of them is that we are aware of the position that we are absolute foreigners in Split and that we adopt this as an inherent quality. The second was that we would not rely on factual data and what we nominally know as the identity and history of the Mediterranean and Split but would instead insist on a completely alienated approach as much as possible. The third premise contributes to this, as we imagine ourselves as beings who are not primarily visual. Instead of relying on visual imputs, we tried to build the story and history of us as a group of beings who arrived to Split; experience it and explore through the senses of touch and hearing.

 

The goal was for each participant to find one point, a precise geographical location for which they would create their own narrative, fictitious purpose or history that no one has yet recognized because it “lived” in some parallel, (our) dimension. In creating narratives, it was also necessary to give at least one or multiple instructions on how to enter this alternative reality: in order for others to be able to see the world with our “eyes,” we must explain how and place them in our sensory structure. In this way, we have created a map of the city center that resembles an open-world game scenario – each point is one more insight into our alternate reality. The stories are audio documented and transferred to a digital repository, ie a digital map so that in the future others can walk through our world and experience it. The map also includes a pre-narrative – who and why conceived this “city within a city” map – so that those who get acquainted with the rules of its creation can subsequently join the replenishment of this fictional network.

“Misplaced Women?” – performance workshop by Tanja Ostojić / Split, 6th – 8th April 2021
 

Tanja Ostojić’s performance workshop “Misplaced Women?” was held from 6th to 8th April 2021 in Split. A total of five participants, selected on the basis of an open call, attended the workshop: Mia Bradić, Ines Borovac, Katarina Duplančić, Lissette Nicole Josseau and Alejandra Robles Sosa, and for the performance the workshop leader and organizers from CHC also joined. A public presentation showcasing the results of the workshop was held on April 8th in the Amphitheater of the Youth Center (Dom Mladih), with participants sharing reflections after their performances.

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“Misplaced Women?” is an art project by Tanja Ostojić consisting of performances, series of performances, workshops and delegated performances, which has been running since 2009, so we were extremely glad to be part of this distinguished project, especially because we managed to gather participants from different profiles and generations, who told their stories, touched upon numerous topics and opened some important questions with their performances.

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A wide range of possibilities of reading and interpretation affects our understanding of public space but also our relationship to it. We must constantly remind ourselves that this can be a space of expression and a space of freedom, but that it remains a space in which power relations are very much visible. Therefore, any displacement from it should be questioned evermore.

In the post-production phase, a video of each performance was created, and every participant prepared a text about their work, the process and motivation. Video performances are posted on Misplaced Women? Vimeo channel, and bilingual texts on “Misplaced Women?” blog.

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