Aphasia
«Aphasia» is the medical term for the inability to speak or express oneself, usually as a result of an illness or accident. In the performance «Aphasia», however, the title stands for the feeling of powerlessness when you can't find the words for something because it is unspeakable. In an immersive club atmosphere, the audience witnesses the aftermath of the Yugoslav wars.
In the midst of the dancing crowd, a woman recognises the DJ. She identifies him as a soldier in an iconic war photo from Bosnia in 1992, showing a Serbian paramilitary fighter in combat boots kicking a woman lying on the ground. In this concert performance, we follow the thoughts about guilt, enmity, nationalism, forgetting and remembering. How long the destructive power of a war lasts often only becomes clear decades later, even though wars happen again and again around the world.
Following the performance Aphasia on 30 May, there will be a discussion with the artists at 20:45 in the Zentrum Markus.
Jelena Jureša, born in Novi Sad, is a visual artist and filmmaker. Her work often revolves around the relationship between individual stories and collective memories. «Aphasia» started as a film project and only later became a concert performance.
Easy Read
The performance is like a concert. The singer talks and sings about how she recognises a man. Today he is a DJ, but he used to be a soldier with the enemy. How can you deal with the fact that someone was once with the enemy 30 years ago?
The performance contains loud music.
For people with mobility disabilities
Grosse Halle is accessible barrier-free. However, there is a small door sill on the way to the auditorium. The venue has a barrier-free toilet.
The performance is generally without seats. However, some seating options are available if required. Please ask the Access Friend.
Surtitles etc.
A German translation of the English text is available as a handout.
Special Check-In
At auawirleben you have the option of a Special Check-In. If for any reason you would like to avoid regular admission, require a specific seat, need any mobility assistance or would like to be picked up at the bus station, please contact us in advance (checkin@auawirleben.ch). Someone from the team will accompany you according to your needs.
Access Friend
At Grosse Halle you will find an Access Friend before, during and after the performances. This person is marked with a purple waistcoat. If you have any questions about accessibility or need assistance, please turn to the Access Friend.
Social Story
Social stories are used as a tool to prepare people for a social event such as a theatre performance. In our Social Stories, you will find a description for each performance, what situation to expect at the venue and what customs apply there. You can find the (German) Social Story of «Aphasia» as PDF here.
- By
- Jelena Jureša
- In collaboration with
- Ivana Jozić, Alen Sinkauz, Nenad Sinkauz
- With
- Ivana Jozić, Alen Sinkauz, Nenad Sinkauz
- German Translation
- Andreas Jandl
Production: KAAP in Zusammenarbeit mit Robin
Coproduction: Kunstenfestivaldesarts, Robin, De Singel, Workspacebrussels, Hannah Arendt Institute
Supported by: Royal Academy of Fine Arts (KASK)