two strangers
embrace each other
at the street
in silence for a long while
katharinajej is white and a stranger in the city of Bujumbura, Burundi in Africa. In the city center, she invites local people she does not know to embrace her for a long time in order to become familiar with each other. katharinajej lingers in the close physical contact with the body of her counterpart in silence. Together they become a living sculpture in the busy city life. Can a connection between the strangers be created in this way, despite the existing different understandings, projections, attributions, needs, origins and histories? The encounters take place before the eyes of passersby. A sign placed next to them names the performance.
The performances took place in October 2023, during a residency at Buja Sans Tabou, a space for art and theater in Bujumbura. On site, katharinajej further developed the performance "becoming familiar with each other", which has already taken place in Cologne in Germany in 2019 and in Yangon in Myanmar in 2020.
The presentation of " becoming familiar with each other in Bujumbura" and a conversation with katharinajej will took place on 27th of October 2023 at Buja Sans Tabou.
Feedback from the participants
For me it was an unforgettable encounter. At one moment I felt like we were walking together. Our minds connected with each other. What an inspiration. (from Elyse)
As we embraced, I felt your heart beat and felt your breath. It was peace. (from Stessy)
I sank into our shared love and joy. (from Esperance)
Photo
Hernin-Guérin Ingabire
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