The excluded flesh

Akademie Schloss Solitude
Baden-Wurtemberg, Germany, March 2023
The Trailer Collective

The excluded flesh is a stage performance/installation, a continuation or 2nd phase of the previous project I want to be a female animal, carried out in 2021.

Even though the process has the same conceptual ground and inspiration, opening a similar discussion on the female body and the stereotypes that cross it and put it in tension, this time the emphasis is put even more on the visual contrasts and connections between a cow body and the female flesh.

The parallel is more radicalised: how our bodies are so similar, and how the colours on stage (red, shining yellow and blue, black and pink) aim to the fact that we navigate societies which force us to be exhibited and on sale, like if we live in many kinds of museums, galleries, warehouses, supermarkets and slaughterhouses.

On stage the performer tries to make the audience feeling uncomfortable, observed, questioned, using different devices and strategies like frontal stand up dialogues, open microphone, voice in off giving strict instructions, songs in live and a dance that puts the body at its limit: the limit of exhaustion, the violence and vulnerability.

Nora is still the main character, alter ego, symbolic figure, but now shaped as an inflatable doll created to arise lust and desire, and then to produce disgust and shame. Beauty is a matter of hunger and almost a need today, but also a reason to play with guilt, vindication and noises, a lot of noises and disturbance.

This is still the kingdom of the excluded flesh.

But now an invitation to take a step further: to think WITH the audience, together, now and here, on stage, frontally and directly, about the hardness of carrying many cultural charges while being a woman, but also the power that we can still find in our flesh, once we remove those rigid structures and are able to bring it to a public space, exactly as it is: fragile and strong, imperfect and powerful. Like a cow.

Dedicated to all cows in the world.
To all flesh feeling excluded.

Welcome…

CREDITS

Performer
Karina Pino Gallardo

Direction, text and visual-musical concept
Karina Pino Gallardo
Alessandra Santiesteban

Photo-shooting and edition
Alessandra Santiesteban

Video maker
Pedro Ambrosoli

Documentation
Alessandra Santiesteban
Karina Pino Gallardo
Aline Xavier Minheiro

Production
Akademie Schloss Solitude (fellowship 2022-2023)

Acknowledgments
Lipika Kamra
Nika Rukavina
Aline Xavier Minheiro