In Jewish folklore, a golem is a clay figure brought to life by magic. Often seen as man’s attempt to re-create life in the same way that the biblical God created Adam from dust, the golem is a twisted version of life existing to only serve the will of its master. GOLEM is a performative dialogue between a dancer and a sculptor, which displays and yet questions the manipulations of human form and movement inherent in each art form.
a sensitive, beautiful performance that blurs dance, art, and the artist.
Canadian sculptor Mike Sprogis and Belgian contemporary dancer and choreographer Julien Carlier have come together to create an intriguing piece of performance. Opening with recorded narration from Sprogis, stood atop a chair as Carlier demarcates the stage with white tape before starting a simple warm-up, the sculptor begins to mime working stone with a hammer and chisel; each strike accompanied by the sound of metal on stone and the dancer reacts to the rhythm of the stonework with movement which develops into an increasingly frantic breakdance. From there, Sprogis begins to work a huge lump of red clay in the centre of the stage, forming the golem’s face as Carlier reflects the physical effort of working the thick clay. As this is happening a live percussion is performed by a drummer onstage and I find myself questioning if the dancer is following the drumbeat or is the drummer following the dance? As the performance progresses, Sprogis rolls the clay around the space and then up his body in what appears to be a Sisyphean task. Finally dropping it onto the stage, he steps in the clay and sensually works his feet into the mass. More narration follows, and Sprogis speaks directly to the audience in a quiet, unassuming voice. Unfortunately, as I’m sitting near the air conditioning, I miss almost everything he says but my interest is regained as he starts to work Carlier in the same way he has treated the clay; moulding and shaping him, sometimes with force, sometimes tenderly. Eventually the two are writhing, spinning and falling together in an intimate yet playful manner.
GOLEM is a challenging piece. Each audience member will have their own interpretation of what they just experienced but all must agree that this is a sensitive, beautiful performance that blurs dance, art, and the artist.
