claude wittmann was born in Switzerland where he worked as a molecular biologist and now lives in Toronto; works as a bicycle mechanic and in performance art; has performed in festivals, in curated events, in self-produced pieces, and in the public space; in butoh-based solos, in intent-based durational process work, in body-directed although very psychological gender identity work, in improvised voice/noise/sound experiments and improvisations, during teaching and on live FM and internet radio. his most recent projects include Radio-Equals (one-on-one egalitarian conversations about equality, broadcast on FM radio and/or internet radio) and 2894 (participative reading on an internet radio of the Truth and Reconciliation’s Commission report). claude is concerned by the (in)ability of art in triggering social change.
MONOMYTHS is conceived and curated by Shannon Cochrane and Jess Dobkin. Presented by FADO Performance Art Centre, in association with The Theatre Centre.
MONOMYTHS invites a diverse collection of artists, scholars, and activists to revise Joseph Campbell’s conception of the hero’s journey through performance art, lectures, workshops, and other offerings. This new assemblage of non-linear un-narratives proposes a cultural, political and social feminist re-visioning of the world. The MONOMYTHS perception of the universal journey dispels the notion of the lone patriarchal figure on a conquest to vanquish his demons—both inner and outer—in consideration of community, collectivity, and collaboration.
MONOMYTHS Stage 11: Refusal of the Return Refusal of MONOMYTHs claude wittmann with Adam Herst
For me the question in the arts right now is not “How?” (form), “When?” (place/time),”By/for whom?” (authorship/audience), but “What for?” which is locating the projects in a political and ethical path. ~Tania Bruguera
2894 by claude wittmann asks participants to read outloud from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report (TRC report, 2015.) Each participant reads the report to a live streaming radio station with the aid of a cell phone and streaming software provided by the artist. Readers start where the last one left and read as much as they want. Sometimes the readings take place in a specific location, but mostly, participants may read anywhere they choose–in their homes, or in public. Participants read as much or as little as they can. Listeners can similarly be anywhere, listening on any device at any time. The connection of the radio provides a special kind of intimacy between readers and listeners. This project started in April 2016. It is on-going, until the entire report (all 2894 pages) has been read or until the project transforms into something more relevant to social change. 2894 is not a Truth and Reconciliation project. It is a Truth project. It is currently co-managed by claude wittmann and Adam Herst.
ABOUT 2894
2894 starts at the point where we acknowledge that it is not possible yet for Indigenous People and Settlers to meet in equal terms. 2894 reads the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s report (TRC report). 2894 is nothing else than reading the TRC report with integrity. 2894 is a trial at triggering something. 2894 will bring stuff up in the hearts of readers and listeners. We will see what we choose to do with it.
2894 is managed with an artistic ethics: 2894 will not exploit the suffering of people who went to residential schools; 2894 asks us to act with integrity at all times, even if this has the risk to create discomfort; 2894 should generate equality; 2894 is not owned by anybody.
In 2894: Refusal of MONOMYTHs, claude and Adam facilitate a 3-hour reading session. Audience is invited to attend to listen to readings of the report. Audience is invited to become readers should they wish. Readers read as much or as little as they choose, to the assembled audience of witnesses.
Conceived and curated by Jess Dobkin and Shannon Cochrane
MONOMYTHS invites a diverse collection of artists, scholars, and activists to revise Joseph Campbell’s conception of the hero’s journey through performance art, lectures, workshops, and other offerings. This new assemblage of non-linear un-narratives proposes a cultural, political and social feminist re-visioning of the world. The MONOMYTHS perception of the universal journey dispels the notion of the lone patriarchal figure on a conquest to vanquish his demons–both inner and outer–in consideration of community, collectivity, and collaboration.
Joseph Campbell’s influential book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949) prescribes a common pattern to all of the world’s mythic narratives. According to this fundamental structure, the archetypal hero is challenged to embark on a monumental quest. Over the course of the hero’s journey, trials and obstacles must be overcome until a victory is won and the hero returns home with new knowledge about himself and the world. Campbell’s concept of the monomyth (‘one myth’) is a recognizable motif in both ancient mythology and contemporary culture, including film, music, literature, sports, and advertising. A current trend in popular visual culture replaces the male character with a female one, in spite of the fact that our heroine–from the get-go–would make different choices if the conditions, and conditioning, allowed. While each MONOMYTHS stage stands alone, the work of each presenting artist is interdependent and connected. These independent visions, when stitched together through the audience’s collective presence, form an exquisite corpse of a larger experimental narrative.
The year-long MONOMYTHS project is presented in three sections starting in February 2016 and concluding in February 2017.
Part 1 (February 3–7, 2016) Stage 1: The Ordinary World/Call to Adventure Stage 2: Refusal of the Call Stage 3: Meeting of the Mentor Stage 4: Crossing the Threshold Stage 5: Belly of the Whale
Part 2 (May 2016–January 2017) Stage 6: Tests, Allies, Enemies Stage 7: Ordeals Stage 8: Atonement with the Father/State Stage 9: Apotheosis/Journey to the Inmost Cave
Part 3 (February 15–19, 2017) Stage 10: The Road Back Stage 11: Refusal of the Return Stage 12: Mistress of Two Worlds Stage 13: Freedom to Live Stage 14: The Return Home
Series Purple
An ode to FADO's history, Series Purple is composed of a collection of purple fragrance materials dating back to the Roman Empire. Dense, intense, and meandering, this fragrance tells us non-linear stories.
