Kemang Wa Lehulere

Performa 17 Kemang Wa Lehulere I cut my skin to liberate the splinter Fri, Nov. 3, 8:30pm — 9:30pm Sat, Nov. 4, 8:30pm — 9:30pm Sun, Nov. 5, 8:30pm — 9:30pm The Connelly Theater 220 E 4th Street New York, NY 10009 Cape Town artist Kemang Wa Lehulere creates a new set of machines—sculptural instruments—for his collaborators to play, working with theater director Chuma Sopotela to conduct actions and movements borrowed from children’s games. The artist also composes an accompanying sound work that was galvanized by Cosmic Africa, the 2003 documentary about Thebe Medupe, an astrophysicist who traveled throughout the continent and shared knowledge about the universe, ancient artwork in Namibia and Egypt, and myths with villagers along the way. The artist’s Commission bridges these planes of knowledge with constellations drawn from indigenous astrology, tribal wisdom, and religious rites. Curated by RoseLee Goldberg Producer: Esa Nickle Associate Producer: Robert Wuss Ziphozenkosi Dayile (production coordinator/ performer) Chuma Sopotela (choreography/performer) Lulama Qupe (technician / performer) Daniel Bruce Gray(sound design) Asemahle Ntlonti (performer) Lesedi Ntsane (trumpet) Production Manager: Bob Kalas Production Manager/Lighting Design: Megan Lang Sound Design: Mikey Deane Supported by the Ford Foundation, Marian Goodman Gallery, the Performa Commissioning Fund and the Performa 17 South African Pavilion Committee. Photos © Paula Court. Courtesy of Performa.