Investigating Human: Heightened Senses and Texture of Absence

Abstract

The following writings explore and describe the Master-study-long investigation of human beings, heightened sensitivity, and possible texture or textures of absence in the context of three devised projects. These practical projects, undertaken in the field of theatre during the course of the author’s MA studies at DAMU Prague, derived from an interest to work with abstract materials, that highlight the qualities evoking, affecting, and triggering human senses, and that share a particular quality – absence. The performances Human Sound, Human Sound II: the concert, and Take Less Space and Disappear are described in order to trace the process of investigating humans by working intuitively. Alongside, it considers heightened body sensitivity, practicing the imaginary, and exercising empathy as ways to connect. The hypothesis motivating this thesis is: that by using the tools of heightened sensitivity, different materialities and absence as a felt texture can be enabled. Human senses are hereby investigated by reflecting scientific, medical, and artistic knowledge, and going through the creative processes of research, devising, and presenting the artistic work.