Potlatch of Silence: Mockumentary meditation, the practice of shared presence by Daria Spivakova

From 8th till 17th of April mysterious, almost shamanic rituals took place in Almaty again. Daria Spivakova, creator of the performances called "Utopia" and "Utopia. Return to sleep", presented to a citizens a new project — "Potlatch of Silence". This is an opportunity to break away from the hustle and bustle of the world for a while and enjoy the silence. However, silence here is not equal to soundlessness. Although the content of the performance is not subject to disclosure, we will try to look into it without any spoilers.

"Potlatch of Silence" became one of the first events for the new venue site — the House of merchant Shakhvorostov, the younger brother’s House on Baribayev 36. The building has undergone various incarnations: from a merchant's mansion to a sacred place. Former audiences of the French Embassy adds colour to the performance. “Potlatch of Silence” is an immersive performance, which means that the viewer is involved in what is happening on a par with the actors. If not for one "but": there are no actors in "Potlatch". There is a guide who greets and accompanies guests, and a voice that accompanies throughout the action.

At the performance, the audience learns several new terms at once. Everything is more or less clear with meditation - is the process of contemplating yourself and the world around you. However, potlatch is an Indian ritual of exchange of gifts. The history of the tradition is ancient, but it continues to be relevant today. The most authoritative participant of the potlatch was the one who made the most generous gift. Although it can be viewed from the other side — as a release from unnecessary.

The term "mockumentary" is also unheard term. In other words, this genre is pseudo—documentary. The events are presented with documentary accuracy, despite the fact that it never happened. A vivid example from popular culture is the "Evening of a Difficult Day", which brought the Beatles to television screens. The film was staged, in which the audience believed it, because the musicians themselves starred in it. An example from our breadth is the broadcast of Sergei Kuryokhin, in which he argued with a serious face that Lenin abused fly agarics and eventually turned into a mushroom himself. 

How does this relate to the performance? The viewer enters an artificially created art space. However, everything in it — sounds, smells, actions, text — is real. The atmosphere is created from simple things: fire, flowers, leaves, water. Each viewer creates a story on their own. This is the beauty of such events: for everyone, this experience is unique and timely. The viewer is invited to a date with himself and with the person behind the glass. However, even being among people, he still remains alone with his inner self.

“Potlatch of Silence" is a tactile performance. It is built on tactile sensations and offers guests “artifacts” — various memorable little things. Following the instructions, the viewer gives his artifacts and receives others' one in return, draws, glues, fixes it. At the beginning and also at the end of the performance, you can get acquainted with the impressions of the participants left earlier.

The performance lasts only 55 minutes, but during this time you can do a lot. Feel your roots going deep into the earth and time. Calm down, take a deep breath. Trust the person next to you and feel protected near the fire. The main thing is get into the right mood and catch the vibe. While, the rest is done by the “Potlatch of Silence" itself.

Фото: Didar Kushаmаnov.