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hereish and nowish (Oh my silly, silly, silly mind!)
Live installation
hereish and nowish (Oh my silly, silly, silly mind!) is a live installation by Stefanie Knobel. In this physical approach to the production and weaving process of cotton, performative breathing techniques draw attention to various looms. The result is a distinct physicality that is impossible to escape. Stefanie Knobel worked with the performers Anna Lena Lehr, Tabea Magyar, Désirée Meul, and Nina Tshomba to create the almost hour-long choreography, which was performed three times during the exhibition's opening hours and repeated seven times in an organic loop.

hereish and nowish is a critique of the spatio-temporal and gendered division of reproductive and productive activities, due to which many weavers felt their physical and creative integrity to be under threat. In Switzerland, textile cottage industries persisted until the 19th century, when looms were mechanized as part of industrialization and the work was subsequently transferred to the factories. The strict separation of disciplined spaces, times, and work was perceived by many weavers as akin to amputation.

The live installation was shown at Helmhaus Zurich in 2017.


Trailer for hereish and nowish, 2017. Video: Gabriel Studerus

Performance view hereish and nowish, 2017. Photo: Esther Nora Mathis

Performance view hereish and nowish, 2017. Photo: Esther Nora Mathis

Performance view hereish and nowish, 2017. Photo: Esther Nora Mathis

Performance view hereish and nowish, 2017. Photo: Esther Nora Mathis