Joachim Maudet's 'Welcome' Deconstructs Body and Language at Constellations Festival
The contemporary dance festival, 12th Constellations, took place in Toulon from September 15–18, 2022, and was established by Frank Micheletti. This free event showcased approximately twenty performances, workshops, conferences, and DJ sets. A highlight was 'Welcome,' a piece by Joachim Maudet featuring Pauline Bigot and Sophie Lèbre, in which three performers, dressed in neutral attire, remain motionless while a list of names is ventriloquized. They act as their own puppets, engaging in exchanges that echo Beckett's style. A memorable scene involves the performers collapsing, with their tongues moving to a batucada beat. Born in 1989, Maudet delves into narrative complexities and the disconnect between language and movement, fostering empathy through their struggle with bodily and vocal control.
Key facts
- 12th edition of Constellations festival in Toulon, September 15–18, 2022
- Festival founded by Frank Micheletti
- Free festival with around 20 performances, workshops, conferences, professional days, DJ sets
- Joachim Maudet's 'Welcome' performed with Pauline Bigot and Sophie Lèbre
- Performers use ventriloquism with closed mouths, producing a litany of names
- Yellow turtlenecks reference Louis de Funès
- Tongues emerge from closed mouths dancing to batucada music
- Maudet born in 1989, describes himself as 'a dancer who speaks'
- Influenced by Bill Viola's slow-motion videos
- Technique of trembling disrupts postures and intentions
- Performers forget to blink due to concentration, causing watery eyes
- Mouths open anarchically like Francis Bacon's screaming popes
Entities
Artists
- Joachim Maudet
- Pauline Bigot
- Sophie Lèbre
- Sylvain Huc
- Frank Micheletti
- Stéphane Boudin-Lestienne
- Louis de Funès
- Bill Viola
- Francis Bacon
- Fabrice Planquette
- Constant Dourville
- Paul Warnery
Institutions
- Constellations
- artpress
Locations
- Toulon
- France
- Méditerranée