Hortus Conclusus | 2012

exerpt of a portraying text by Hannes Dereere

(...)
The Latin Hortus Conclusus is a mediaeval term meaning ‘enclosed garden’, referring to the courtyards of monasteries. Those courtyards were secluded from the outside world in order to make the sacred character of the place more palpable and so to impose discipline on reality. An oasis of rest and reflection in the dark recesses of history. Baervoets actually uses the concept more as a metaphor of extreme purity and formality in his work. The sand and the waterline on the Ostend coast create a contemporary Eden within which the performers demarcate their own space using four poles.

With only a handful of previously arranged movements they react to each random item or occurrence they coincidentally encounter within the landscape. Each movement during the performance is both entirely unique and directed at the same time. ‘Structured improvisation’, is what Baervoets calls it. We are again encountered with a paradox: fixed spontaneity. Or conditioned coincidence.

These juxtapositions give substance to Baervoets’ work and create a boundless source of reflection on the medium of dance. It remains always current: the interplay between reality and theatre.

An important element is the emancipation of the spectator. “The performance is presented as a Ding an Sich”, says Baervoets. “A step is a step, a move is a move. There is nothing more to it.” Everyone perceives the piece in through their own subjective filter despite all being shown the same. In this way, personal association influences objective observation.

“This does involve some theatrical elements, but I definitely do not want to encourage that. I do not want to impose meaning. The spectator can see whatever they want. They can even choose to watch the entire performance or walk away”, Baervoets concludes.

Tour

29-06-2012 at Dansand / Oostende
30-06-2012 at Dansand / Oostende


choreography :
Alexander Baervoets
performed by :
Alexander Baervoets, Heike Langsdorf, Ariane Loze, Christoph Ragg, Anna Rispoli
sound :
Christophe Meierhans
production :
Alexander vzw
co-production :
Vrijstaat O., nadine
support :
Kaaitheater
photo 0 :
Lisa Tahon
photos 1,2,3 :
Tine Declerck