Aviariation

William Forsythe, 2013
1949, New York, NY (US) – Frankfurt am Main (DE)

in cooperation with Theater Basel

Courtesy of the artist
In the collection of Museum Folkwang, Essen

Programming: Sven Thöne
Producer: Julian Gabriel Richter

June 04., 2013,  Theaterplatz, Basel
Basel, Theaterplatz, 2013
Wanas Foundation, 2017
Essen, Folkwang Museum, 2019

Through his choreographic objects, Forsythe explores how physical bodies and movement interact in space, an interaction that, unlike gesture, does not vanish once created. In this sense, choreography becomes independent of the human body and can examine the ongoing relationship between objects in motion.  
The trees’ movements thus serve as the project’s basis and its content as viewers self-reflectively engage with the resulting choreography. Their hearing and sight follow the movements taking place on the square, where nature is “staged” and “intensified” in a highly nuanced manner. The swaying branches and rustling leaves also have an effect on the local bird population – as the work’s title suggests.