Gut Gemacht!

In the face of the current shifts in values caused by populist influences, “Gut Gemacht!” is an equally tongue-in-cheek and critical application of an evaluation system created by the French Fluxus-artist Robert Filou: Using the verdicts of “well done”, “badly done” and “not done”, the four performers Antonia Baehr, Jule Flierl, Claire Vivianne Sobottke and Hermann Heisig confront their own performances live on stage.

The pieces are responses to selected works that constituted historic rule violations in 1980s art emerging from the punk movement of both sides of the Berlin Wall. Artists like Gabriele Stötzner (Erfurt/GDR) and “Die Tödliche Doris” (West Berlin/FRG) challenged paradigms in art, music, life-style and social circumstances, opposing social norms with the means of artistic gestures.

In rotation, the members of the quartet look at these works and include influences like their own biographies into the performance. Next, the pieces are appropriated, re-enacted and developed further by other members of the cast. The same group then takes on the role of “judges” or “jury” to evaluate the work.

“Gut Gemacht!” is a choreographic work that employs grotesque dances, defiant singing, experimental vocalisation and absurd tutorials. From the 21st century, the quartet sounds out works from the past to reflect on current rules in art. Because, where the freedom of art and opinion are at risk, the art world has to address social dynamics and explore practices of freedom.

Choreographer and visual artist Antonia Baehr creates sensual and humorous productions that open a new view of society. At Residenz, she has previously produced “Die besondere Perücke” together with visual artist Lucile Desamory. Jule Flierl is a dancer, performer and choreographer. Together with visual artist Mars Dietz, she produced “Wismut – a nuclear choir” at Residenz, a play about extractivism. The Leipzig-based choreographer and dancer Hermann Heisig has been a guest at Residenz several times, most recently with “Late Night DADA”, whereas Claire Vivianne Sobottke will perform here for the first time. She too is a choreographer, performer and dancer, and defines her work as a place where the norms of thinking and seeing can by challenged or altered.