Lotte's thing thing

Silence

What

Silent is a video-work by Pauline Boudry and Renate Lorenz. The video is showing a performance by Aérea Negrot. The video consists of two different scenes. It begin's with an interpretation of John Cage's partiture 4”33 (the famous piece where he instructs the performers not play their instrument for the duration of the piece). The second part consists of a song composed specially for the piece.

A transgender woman appears in front of a dozen of microphones. The nail polish on her nails is wearing off. There is a white wall behind her.. But soon it falls to the ground revealing her standing outside, she is dressed in a glittery dress. Behind her people are sitting on benches or walking by. The person in front of the microphone looks ready to speak. She smokes a cigarette, reminding me of a revolutionary, ready for action. She is ready to speak. She is getting ready to speak. She knocks on the microphone.. She clears her throat. She doesn't speak. She remains silent. She disappears behind the microphone and you see her sitting on a bench with white earplugs in her ears. She performs a song; “Dear president, you have no arms, no legs and no sex…"

How

The performance piece is done in front of the camera. The camera is the viewer is the audience. She performs for you to see her. The start of the video reminds me of a press conference, the microphones representing different news channels, different opinions. When the white screen falls it leaves the actress exposed and vulnerable but at the same time she seems proud in this vulnerability and ready for action. She seems ready to speak. This makes the choice not to speak a strong one, not a silencing act but an empowering act. Like a silent march.

Why

The image of her in front of a dozen microphones, looking in and away from the camera is very strong. It says; look at me, I represent people. I want to speak but you can’t hear me and through this not hearing I speak. The description says; “Silence can be a violent experience, as in being silenced, and it can be an act of resistance.” These two acts of silence are represented in a strong way in this piece.

In General

Where do you place yourself when you can and can't relate, the different works in this exhibition ask not only for your attention and opinion, they almost ask for your participation, and at that moment it also counters you, put you in a corner. Who am I? As a white girl, to relate to these problems? I am interested in other women. Although I have never been in love with a woman I have always seen myself as fluid. At the same time I have never experienced being gay, and some of these works leave me blank as to what they expect from me. But not for this work. It communicates very clearly. Look at me, watch me, I have something to show you. I have something to tell you without words.