FRAMEWALK – THE CROSSCULTURAL
Question: Take a standpoint within
WEEK founded in 2009, based on relational
this space/location and define what
cross-cultural works in the performing arts
you see, hear and feel?
and in arts in general, researching embodiment and transformation across cultures and traditions
Bharat: I see sky and sea interact
through participation.
as one body, the rock planted and
During framewalk the artists migrate as one
not moved by the sea, I feel
group, from one culture to the other, back
firm and strong like the rock in
and forth as one somatic shape. Listening and
the sea.
communicating, collecting stories being offered along this journey.
Barbara: I see a field full of
Being inbetween, the participating artists need
butterflies, it looks very peaceful;
to call out for each other and recall at the same
like a big happy family that shares
time their individual cultures to rely on. Unveiling
everything.
mysteries, finding poetry or follies, being always close enough to connect and distant enough to
Max: Hate, piece and death, con-
still see, ready to give and share their findings,
cerns, ignorance, pretending being
their personal and professional skills, their
someone, kindness or weakness.
visions and their uncertainties, become this one, although temporary, but trusted and solid body.
Samira: Under the shade by the sea
framewalk.
I am guarded by the nature, the sea. I see, I hear the waves and birds and feel natural with the wind blowing against my body. Bella N: I hear the sea and feel nature’s beautiful orchestration of sounds.
YOU GOTTA STRETCH TO REACH…
Bella O: I see beautiful cumulus
Walking on words. // Singing through
clouds, palm trees swaying as if
movement. // Acting in focus and love. //
the sound of the sea is music.
You gotta stretch to reach…
I feel at peace and warm in this
Reconnoitre boundaries, inner and outer
gorgeous equation.
limitations. // Exploring, probing peripheries around and within. // Ready to trespass these,
Kelvin: I see humans competing with
our personal margins. // You gotta stretch to
nature to survive and the struggle
reach…
gives me healing.
Major focus on sound, rhythm and music. // You gotta stretch to reach…
Daniela: At this moment the only
Respecting where we were physically at this very
thing I see is the beautiful ocean
moment in time. // You gotta stretch to reach…
with its sweet melody and cool
Shooting a video clip of one of our songs. //
breeze around giving me the inter-
You gotta stretch to reach…
nal peace I always yearn for.
Apam. // The community, its historical gravity and its people living from the sea. // You gotta
Dariya: From this point I see stars.
stretch to reach ...
I hear the sea and I feel love.
Dedicating this short film to Haduwa Arts & Culture Institute. // To artists and their spirits.
Dadie: I see the endless tip of the
You gotta stretch to reach…
sea, hear the clap of leaves and
Growing, evolving, flowering out as artist and
feel the coolest sunray under my
person. // You gotta stretch to reach…
skin.
Cherishing each others forthcoming presence. Anita: I hear the wind and the
Serendipity. Framewalk Düsseldorf, Accra, Apam 2014
waves, but also the leaves as I see
to me.
them flying in the air. I feel the
Petra Kron
same air tickling my face.
SILVER N GOLD
Awere: I sit under the coconut
going down // magic voices // flying around
tree, watching the sea, hearing the
spaces here // places there // subtle tunes everywhere connecting, trans-muting, present’n‘past
smooth tides with nature‘s accompanying natural ambience. The sea breeze moving around me, making me feel peace in my soul.
filling the spots in-between feeling sorrows n pains // also happiness n gains
Angelina: I saw a lot of happy kids. I hear a lot of different
being really close n incredibly far // inside out
voices somewhere angry, shouting or
of a glass jar // shouldn’t we all be at par
laughing. I feel like being pulled
here at last, all at one // no matter who and where we are we’re not far // nor too close // from the truth given the times and space // magic and voices the pace and places // roots and rhythm
into their ordinary day. Ronaldo: I see the sea and coconut trees. I hear music all over, producing multi percussion sounds. I feel so excited and lively.
the here and there // the why and why not
Felix: I see a beautiful sight for
subtle tunes everywhere
relaxation, hearing nothing but
say no more// going up SILVER N GOLD
thunderous waves, feeling like new discovery. Justina: I smell the sea in front of me, I can hear the wind blow and feel it on my skin, it gives me a good feeling, a feeling of joy and
Collabo: hisblackness/hisrapetness
happiness.
THE TEAM PETRA KRON works as cultural anthropologist and as performing artist for productions and projects. She does production management for various programs and plays in Germany and abroad, working majorly in crosscultural contexts. She developped a concept for relational cultural works. She designs and instantiates art programs like Framewalk and Lab dc in collaboration with artists from varying countries, like Japan, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Turkey, Israel, Ethiopia, South Africa and Germany. She’s got a Ph.D. (ABD) in Cultural Anthropology of Mainz University and a state board examination in Fine Arts and English from Düsseldorf University. She constantly teaches, researches and explores her concept of relational cultural works.
Angelica: I see people walking in and out of the cultural center, I hear them cheer and I feel joy. Jude: I see pure energy evaporating from the people around and I feel the hot sun. Benso: I see bamboo around, I feel protected and I hear whispers from the wind. Napoleon: I see the settlement, I feel the wind of freedom and hear the blowing of the sea to the land of Apam. Alex: I see one naked girl in the show, one on the toilet and one
KOJO BENEDICT QUAYE AKA SIR BLACK
brushing her teeth. I smell water.
is an African living in Ghana. He is a perfor-
I hear chatting. I feel family.
mance artist, painter, sculptor and Ehalakasa (spoken word poetry) instructor. He is the founder of TalkFACT3, Ehalakasa Talkparty the only regular poetry event and the Annual Ehalakasa Festival. Sir Black is very much involved in organizing spoken word poetry events, workshops and projects in schools
and communities in collaboration with local,
Question: Tell us how close and how
international and cultural institutions around
far you are from the sounds around
the country. He is a three-time prize winner in
you.
spoken word poetry (Ehalakasa) including the 2006 Peace FM National Search Competition. THOMAS KLEIN works as a musician and is a member of the internationally known electronic band Kreidler. He has diverse Solo projects like Sølyst, fauna and Clyne.He composes for film and audio productions and he creates artistic sound works in collaboration with visual artists like Mischa Kubal and Dunja Evers. Regularly he does music for theatre plays in Cologne and Düsseldorf.
David: I am standing right in the middle so I am not so far and not so close. Alex: Close enough to get fear far enough to ignore the sound. Luna: I can’t be neither close nor far from the sounds around me cause I can’t escape them, sound is everywhere even your heart sounds.
ABIODUN ODUKOYA is a singer/songwriter and works as arranger and producer of music.
Angelina: Close enough to hear them
He is a pioneer of the HipHop and afro/
far away to see who is creating it
reggae/soul scene in Germany since the 90’s.
and for what reason.
In addition to his Solo career he promotes and produces young musical talents in Nigeria
Awere: Like the air I breathe I
and Germany. He is a founding member of
am closer to smooth movement of
Brothers Keepers, with its persisting statements
the wind and the imaginary smooth
against racism. He collaborated with Maceo
melodies. But I bury myself from
Parker, UB40, Gregory Isaacs and Xavier
distortion.
Naidoo. Abiodun is an experienced teacher for voice, singing, rap and spoken word.
Daniela: When sound is far away I bring it close, closer to my soul.
KYEKYEKU has worked on several artistic
Napoleon: Listening to music every-
projects connected with sound and music for
day makes me close to popular tunes
short movies, theatre, poetry and performance
around me, but the sweet melodies
in general. He writes, arranges and produces
of nature such as birds chirping
music. A lively performer whose music
and the sounds of the sea waves are
and performances cut through a cross-section
sounds farthest from me.
of music and performance styles heavily influenced by the acoustic guitar with a tasty
Benso: The sound around me is
Ghanaian Highlife music yet exploring a mix
indispensable.
classical, Flamenco Jazz and Brazilian guitar styles and sounds in his music. FRANK FERGUSON LAING works as assistant lecturer in the Department of Music, School of Performing Arts, Legon. He holds a Diploma in General Music, a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Philosophy in Music. He teaches orchestration, harmony and counterpoint. He is the head of the departments‘ Choral Ensemble and the co-director of the University’s Jubilee Choir. As a Director of Music he is in charge of the St. Anthony‘s Choral Group. KOFIE ANTHONIO is currently an assistant
Max: Sound of music in the corner, talking people around, music of life everywhere on a second level, sound of home in my head but far away, I can not hear you. Felix: I found myself at the very center of the sounds around me because they are usual. Dadie: I am the lost echo close enough to get fear, far enough to ignore the sound.
lecturer at the Dept of Dance Studies at the School of Performing Arts of the University of
Bharat: I am an Ogre of sounds.
Ghana. He holds an MFA degree in the
Anita:
Theater Arts (Dance) from the University of
the earth, as close as the ray of
Ghana. His special area is video technology
sun is to my skin.
As far as the sun is from
as a teaching tool in dance. He is a choreo-
Bella N: As close as a guitar
grapher and performer and he loves to share
string to a fretboard and as far
to teach and he is ready to learn.
as a xylophone to its beater.
ALFRED ELIKEM KUNUTSOR is a tutor in performance studies in the Department of Theatre Arts at the University Of Ghana, Legon. He has an MA and BA in Dramatic Arts from the University of the Witwatersrand South Africa. He believes in collaborations between forms and mediums, genre and people; artists and non artists alike. He practiced from design to acting, from dance to music and he ran performance/ physical theatre workshops in Germany, South Africa and Mexico. He lectured movement in the Wits school of the Arts and performed. He was the artistic director for the Sankofa Afro-Indigenous fusion band in South Africa.
Bella O: I am the shore and the sounds are like waves, they come swiftly and disappear, leaving me with inspiration for my personal melodies. Samira: It’s as close as the blood in my veins which gives me life and as far as the earth I walk on. Eric: As close as the lash to the eye but as far as the eye to the mouth.
MORAD HASSAN is an actor and an acting
Angelica: I am close to the sounds
coach. He studied Art History and Theatre
around me like the teeth and the
Studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem
tongue but very far like the sky
and Acting at the University of Haifa, Israel.
and the earth.
He worked as stage director for Framewalk on Tour and as artist instructor and coach for
Dariya: I am a composer. Everything
Kabawil’s productions King Ed and food-
has a sound and I hear it but my
4brain18. He took part in different plays and
soul has one special sound and I
movies in Israel and Palestine, as in New
try always to hear this poliphony –
World Order and Harold Pinter.
my sound with the sound around me.
Song: Woya woya eii eeeeeii
around // Faces with smiles
sun rise // Far away from the
(let’s go)// Bani Bani woshw3
Leave your past behind // Never
hustles of this life // No hide n
(come and let’s play)
loose your mind // Drown your
seek // With a candle light dinner
sorrows // In the sea
// I will massage your feet // We
Follow me in on my rollercoaster Welcome into the land of open freedom // Freedom is mine //
Woya woya eii eeeeeii // Bani Bani WOSHW3
gonna be alone // Like Adam n Eve // A moment in life // For jus U n Me // You don’t need to be rich //
Got a pocket full of sunshine //
One place, one space, one date
You got to stretch to reach // A
It’s a new day // It’s a new dawn
One you, one me // Just for the
pocket full of sunshine is all you
weekend // Two days, one way,
need // You don’t need to be rich
I pay // What do you say, please
// You gotta stretch to reach //
Woya woya eii eeeeeii // Bani Bani woshw3
girl, // Make U know, pretend
A pocket full of sunshine is all
In the castle // Where things are
It’s gonna be fun // One hell of
you need
changing // Everything comes to
a kind // From dusk till dawn //
light // Dreams become reality
Our love gonna shine // On the
Y33ko Y33ko // Woya woya eii
I see faces, I see faces // All
beach at night // We gone see de
eeeeeii // Bani Bani woshw3
FRAME WALK PARTICIPANTS
Ronaldo: I’m so close to softer
Angelica Kankam // Joseph Pieterson
sounds because it gives me inspi-
Justina Adwoa Adu // Jude A. Kurankyi
ration and the more polyphonic it
David Mendez // Bella Obiago
is, the more I get creative, but
Angelina Anthony // Ernest Owusu Poku
I always move away from piercing
Dariya Maminova // Seth Klutse
and aggressive sounds because it
Mr Maximilian Mersch // Nii Amu Solomon
destroys and disturbs my focus.
Clara Luna Deina // Anita Dufie Barbara Gyasi // Kelvin Goodnews Apeti
Barbara: As close as my ear can
Samira Omar Farouk // Alexandra Lukas
hear and as far as my sight cannot
Mr Bharat Bhaskar // Ms Daniella Attipoe
reach.
Napoleon Mensah // Isabella Narh Felix Tetteh // Eric Pankow // Eric Awere ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Petra Kron
Kelvin: The vibration of rythm makes me feel closer while total silence makes me feel far from sounds.
COORDINATION IN SITU Kojo Benedict Quaye aka Mr Black
INSTRUCTORS Music: Thomas Klein // Abiodun Odukoya Eugene Oppong Ampadu // Frank Laing Dance/Theatre: Kofi Antonio // Alfred Elikem Kunutsor // Morad Hassan Video Clip: Till Arne Vormstein Documentary/Making of: Arne Flekstad KABAWIL e.V. // School of Performing Arts, Legon, University of Ghana // Haduwa Arts & Culture Institute, Apam
Justina: Sounds are everywhere, we have the sound that comes from the outside and we have the inner sound. But mostly I do notice the sound that is able to touch my inner sound.
DAY ONE/DAY TWO
Question: If you were a space, how,
09:00 – 16:30 3 Workshops
when and where do you want to be
17:00
used?
Showing of the Day/Team
DAY THREE 09:30 – 14:00 Workshops Music/Musicians;
Dance/Dancers; Drama/Actors
15:00 – 16:30 Round Up 16:30 – 17:30 Final Presentation Songs Alliance Francaise Live in Accra Jazz Festival
Napoleon: I would like to be used for growing trees and be in temples and be used every night. Till: I am a void of dark matter. On the day of cosmic changes I will
DAY FOUR
provide the necessary madness
09:00 Departure to Apam to Abok’s Place
to rearrange the atmosphere in an
Video shoot at Apam Castle, Fort Patience
attempt of new balance.
Courtesy Call to Nana Effrim X, Chief of Apam DAY FIVE 08:00 Warm Up // Courtesy Call to the Chief of Fishermen // Video shoot of flashmob at fishermen’s beach // Video shoot at Haduwa Arts & Culture Institute DAY SIX 16:00 Public performance at the SPA at Jean Nelson’s Hall forecourt
Angelica: I will be a dance floor in my native land, when there is a full moon. Seth: I want to be within my limit and ability, using my will to bring out what is in me and add up to my possibilities only when needed. Luna: I would like to be used as a
DAY SEVEN
place where I let my thought go and
13:00 Finalising and rounding up
fly with my mind to my own paradise,
Lunch at Guest Centre Bungalow 20:00 Bye Bye Ghana
anytime in a little glass.
FRAMEWALK EXPERIENCE.
Jude: I would want to be used like
The frame within which this year’s Framewalk
time in the mind very early in the
was put in, was a frame to open several oppor-
morning.
tunities and rooted selfs, geographical, genre, cultural and societal dynamics. This journey as
Angelina: I like to be used kindly
it is characteristic of every Framewalk begun
at midnight, where the sun shines.
with very little knowledge of what is to be. The ability to not know the details of what is ahead
Dadie: Like a stream not too far
for me gives room for wonderful things to
from where life is, so I can be felt
happen through the accidentals and the living
every hour during the day.
within, through, around and with the moments that presents themselves. These moments are
Samira: I like to be used by people
the driving force for me.
who appreciate me where I am appre-
Not knowing how the indigenes of Apam will
ciated and when am appreciated.
respond to us at the beach gave me something to look forward to and an experience to cherish
Felix: I would want to be used at
for a long time. I engaged with sound, rhythm
all times by creative people to
and movement in ways that dramatized the core
put smiles on the faces of thousand
of our existence. The ocean gave a wonderful
as they fly and move within me.
backdrop upon which this epic drama unfolded. It sang songs that I had never heard before. It
Bella N: I will be a football filled
made us move in ways that seem common but
with the laughter and screams of
yet uncommon. The sun smiled on us with beauty
fans only but for a moment.
and elegance. The interconnectivity of space and place rooted
Justina: To be used as a place
the end product of what this intercultural ex-
where I can be myself, be free and
perience was aimed at attaining for all partici-
where to experience happiness and
pants. We used different spaces for generating
peace.
and creating materials for the video shoot.
David: A big stage, lights go off
Translating what was created in these different
and come on and the dancers start
spaces to a place (Apam) arose a new ex-
to jump.
perience all together. Within this place, were historically rich spaces that had its own story to
Eric: I will be a formless shape
tell. We went there with ideas of our story and
for the orchestration of a grass-
together with the opportunities made available
hopper ballet.
by these spaces, we told a joint story of what we are; who we are and where we are. These
Benso: In the bed room at night and
stories I believe linger on in our minds and
passionately.
forges ahead with the prospects that exists in the future. These prospects I believe are bright
Bella O: I would be many spaces,
as it is evident in my experience on the Haduwa
from the beach to a meadow to a lit
site during the performance for the shoot.
street at sunrise and at sunset be
Seeing the product we managed to come up with
it passionately and yet softly.
in the space gives me a voice to say “ba ni ba ni wohw3�.
Mr K.
Dariya: I want to be one super beautiful universal instrument for music and people can play me and compose music with me. Ronaldo: I would be a quiet room, to be walked into when restless and weak so you can have rest.
KABAWIL E.V. Flurstraße 11, 40235 Düsseldorf T. 0211.9 36 55 00, www.kabawil.de info@kabawil.de, www.framewalk.de follow or join on facebook. FRAMEWALK – THE CROSSCULTURAL WEEK IS SUPPORTED BY: Landschaftsverband Rheinland Project Partner: University of Ghana, the School of Performing Arts, Accra; Haduwa Arts & Culture Institure