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Weathering: A Sensory Dive into Climate Anxiety
1 Oct
Summary
- Performance uses kinetic sculpture and ritual to reflect on the world's state.
- Driscoll aims to create a sensory environment to involve the audience.
- The work explores our entanglement with nature and climate systems.
Faye Driscoll's performance art piece, 'Weathering,' has captivated and overwhelmed audiences since its New York premiere in 2023. The work, which arrives in the UK for the Fierce festival, is a profound reflection on the state of the world and humanity's connection to ecological systems. It uses a unique blend of kinetic sculpture, ritual, and intense physical exertion to create a powerful sensory experience.
The performance features 10 diverse performers on a rotating platform, shifting from stillness to chaotic exertion. Driscoll aims to craft an environment where the audience inherently feels involved, exploring themes of human connection, perception, and community through wordless, impactful imagery. This approach draws from choreography, Butoh, and performance art, pushing artistic boundaries.
'Weathering' began its creative process during the COVID-19 pandemic, with remote research focusing on intense human interactions. While specific text research didn't make it into the final piece, it informed Driscoll's exploration of blurred human borders during moments of extreme connection. The work's ecological themes highlight our inherent nature within broader weather systems.
Driscoll's artistic drive is centered on the audience's sensory experience, seeking to evoke a profound understanding of shared culpability and involvement. The performance intensifies towards an overwhelming finale, characterized by a "slipperiness of unknowing," challenging viewers' certainties about what they are witnessing and their role within it.
