Elephants in Rooms

In popular historical dramas on TV and film, there is almost always a moment when the lead character goes to the window and gazes out to the world outside. This moment often occurs when the character is overtaken by the necessity to contemplate their place in the world. The lead protagonists of the genre always belong to the upper class. “Elephants in Rooms” takes this moment and expands it into several extended cycles of a choreographed structure of seemingly endless configurations. It is performed by a “chorus” of fourteen artists confined in a world behind glass in their own homes. The videos were filmed on their phones in Bangalore, Bayrischzell, Berlin, Bombay, Brandenburg, Devon, Fuerteventura, New York, Shanghai, Sheffield and Shenzhen. The setting sun was filmed over Plymouth Sound on the south coast of England, from where ships have been setting sail since the 17th century to “explore” and “conquer” the world. Come and go as you please and feel free to help yourself to a complimentary cup of tea at the bar outside! The videos were filmed on phones in Bangalore, Bayrischzell, Berlin, Dahme-Spreewald, Devon, Lanzarote, Mumbai, New York, Shanghai, Sheffield and Shenzhen. Team Concept: Gob Squad / Development, Video & Performance: Zhao Chuan, Johanna Freiburg, Lynn Fu, Anuja Ghosalkar, Alice Hu, Sean Patten, Bhavana Rajendran, Sharmistha Saha, Sharon Smith, Berit Stumpf, Sarah Thom, Bastian Trost, Simon Will, July Yang / Music: Jeff McGrory & Chris Umney (Animal Magic) / Musical Arrangement and Sound Design: Chris Umney / Video Artist: Louise Stevens / Installation Design and Technical Management: Manuel Reinartz / Dramaturgy and Production Management: Christina Runge / Artistic Collaboration: Amina Nouns / Subtitling and Translation: ANTHEA – Cornelia Enger, Sujatro Ghosh, Corinne Hundleby, Jayme Lawman, Katrin Meyberg, Sankar Venkateswaran, Maria Wünsche / Austrian Sign Language Interpreter: Martina Kichler / Chinese Sign Language Interpreter: Jayme Lawman / Producer China: Lynn Fu / Producer India: Anuja Ghosalkar / Management Gob Squad: Eva Steffgen / Funding & Strategy: Eva Hartmann / Finance Management Gob Squad: Caroline Gentz / PR/Communications: Alexandra Lauck / Touring Management: Mat Hand / UK Producer: Ayla Suveren / Thanks to: Peggy Mädler