Ewa Awe presented ‘New Miasma Theory Chapter 2’ in collaboration with Sanja Grozdanić for the AQNB x 3hd 2020: Hyperobjectivity event in a secret London location on September 26, with a video of the performance by Dominik Rosinski premiering on the site today.
The second in an eponymous series of fantastical sonic fables—‘New Miasma Theory Chapter 2’—saw the London-based Polish artist present narrated sonic walks in an unknown northwest London location, culminating in a ceremonial performance. It explored the notions of miasma as ghostly presence and ethereal symbols of collective beliefs, welcoming an audience towards reverie, blurring boundaries between reality and fiction. With a spoken word narrative produced in collaboration with writer Grozdanić, the project evoked oral storytelling rituals.
The performance was the artist’s response to our Hyperobjectivity event, curated by AQNB associate editor Jared Davis, as part of 3hd 2020’s decentralized ECO-centers companion programme. In keeping with its theme of a nature-centered political philosophy known as ‘ecocentrism’, Hyperobjectivity explored the ungraspable concerns around climate change, the pandemic and a failing capitalist system. These issues problematise anthropocentrism, colonialist frameworks, and our false mastery over nature. Uncertainty marks this moment, but also a feeling of potential new ways of thinking emerge—away from rationality and objectivity.
Watch the video above or scroll up for more documentation.**
