A musical, visual and choreographic piece by Jennifer Walshe with the participation of Martine Altenburger, Clara Cornil and the dog Skubi
« Like many children, I loved and trusted animals much more than humans and wanted to be a veterinarian later.
Although in the end I became a composer, animals of all kinds are influenced by my work, in many ways.
My play called Nater Data is made entirely of animal sounds, ranging from certain species of frogs to the sounds of astiots that eat rice through coyotes and bears.
In my opera Set Phasers on Kill!, the characters communicate with animal sounds.
My play Silently and Very Fast was commissioned for a foundation. I used the sounds of dog packs and wooden worms. The soundtrack focuses on the chemical conditions necessary to operate aquatic life around Manhattan.
I have long wanted to create a series of pieces that focus on collaboration between species. This has been a goal since I started my studies as a composer. I dreamed of including my own dog Billy in this job.
My reflection was influenced by the works written by Donna Haraway such as The Companion Species Manifesto and Dutch environmentalist Barabara Noske.
Artists Joseph Beuys and Oleg Kulig who bring animals into contemporary art spaces are very interested.
Writing a play that welcomes a bitch on stage, I seek to create a space to question the meaning of our existence on the side, through, with animals.
Barbara Noske writes « Good participatory observation is an exercise in empathy while at the same time we are aware of the impossibility of having a full knowledge and understanding of it.»
Through this, I hope to make a play that encourages the public to exercise their empathy and listen to other species. »
Jennifer Walshe, April 2016
With Martine Altenburger, Clara Cornil and the bitch Skubi