2 min
As deep as I could remember, as far as I could see, by Tarik Kiswanson
The sculptural, aural and performance-art piece As deep as I could remember, as far as I could see by Tarik Kiswanson, features a dozen children reciting texts in a chorus, in a sculptural setting made of metal blades.
Sculpture and movement
Born in 1986 in Palestine, Tarik Kiswanson has had a rich life full of varied experiences. The artist grew up in Sweden, studied in London and then in Paris, where he now lives and works. In 2016, he presented a striking work at the Collège des Bernardins: a sculptural collection made up of reflective metal blades, dividing visitors’ silhouettes into a poetic puzzle.
Tarik Kiswanson has drawn a taste for unrest from the blend of cultures which have formed his experiences. He freely quotes Martinican philosopher Édouard Glissant (1928-2011) and his "pensée du tremblement” or “trembling thought”, which refuses stillness and feeds on the flows and impermanence of the world.
Sound Dance
Presented for the first time in 2018 at the Lafayette Anticipations - Fondation d'entreprise Galeries Lafayette in Paris, the performance As deep as I could remember, as far as I could see features ten or so children, who move between thin metal blades four metres high, suspended from the ceiling and scraping the ground.
The children touch them and run around them, shifting them to change the reflections seen by the spectators, while reciting texts on the themes of love, forgiveness and exile. Sometimes their voices unite in a single narrative, accentuating the theatrical sound of this performance.
A collective work
Tarik Kiswanson's career and thinking borrow from many different fields, and he enthusiastically collaborates with different people, artists or otherwise, and various trades.
This is the case with As deep as I could remember, as far as I could see: the children come from the Jeannine Manuel bilingual school (Paris), and the costumes are the result of a partnership with the socially and environmentally responsible fashion workshop Mode Estime. Located on Île Saint-Denis, this workshop is driven by a mission of promoting social integration.
Explorations
As deep as I could remember, as far as I could see debuted in Paris in May 2018, and was presented in 2019 at the Performa Biennale in New York, USA.
The performance As deep as I could remember, as far as I could see, by Tarik Kiwanson was commissioned by Performa, a historic performance event in New York. It has benefited from the support of the Institut français as part of the IF Incontournable programme, which supports the presence of artists living in France at major international venues or festivals.