“Tissues,” the title of Pan Daijing’s new experimental play, refers to both the groups of cells that share a similar embryonic origin in the human body and the absorbent paper cleaners that can often be found in boxes on bedside tables and in your grandma’s cardigan sleeve. Known for her engrossing performances, the China-born, Berlin-based sound collider has been commissioned by the Tate Modern for a new noisome piece at its London site.
Presenting at the Tate is one thing. Being the first Chinese female artist to present at the Tate’s performance, interactive art, and video installation galleries known as The Tanks is a whole other thing altogether. Performed by a cast of actors, dancers, and opera singers, and incorporating opera, theater, dance, cinema, and poetry, “Tissues” gives Daijing the chance to do what she truly does best: EVERYTHING.
“Tissues” will take place on October 2 (7-9 PM), 4 (8-10 PM), and 5 (8-10 PM) at the Tate’s Tanks, and tickets can be booked here.
“The piece is ultimately about time and solitude,” states Daijing. “Tissues as the medical term which forms human physicality. And tissues as the instrument we use to wipe to clean bodily fluids and waste, and eventually memory.”
Additionally, the Tate has also commissioned an expanded performance installation by Daijing that will run in tandem with — and as a sister act to — “Tissues.” “The Absent Hour” runs daily from October 2 to October 6 from 11 AM to 5 PM. Moving through six hour-long themed acts (the blue hour, the empty hour, the red hour, the live hour, the dark hour, and the silent hour), Daijing and her cast will be interjecting the acts with spontaneous performances throughout.
Watch the short trailer for this gripping and contemplative performance play below.
More about: Pan Daijing
