Digital Ducttape: a performance by HipSick

Expect an art installation and dance performance in one, with its roots in rave culture, by the Rotterdam-based crew HipSick. A digital labyrinth celebrating the beauty of the malleable identity. We embrace the world of the Internet, social media and artificial self-presentation as self-expression. #acceptyourfakeness.

After PUPPIES FOR SALE and #ShapeME, the trilogue Some Say Morality is Negotiable ends with DIGITAL DUCTTAPE.

DIGITAL DUCTTAPE stems from the urge to shed a positive light on the malleability of our identity. The work begins with the question of whether authenticity really exists. A question that HipSick answers with a resounding no. And if authenticity does not exist after all, is there not in fact redemption and beauty in the potential of social media to present us exactly as we want? Isn’t the careful construction of our identity precisely being concessionless ourselves?

“My phone is like a blank slate. It is taped into my existence. When I see my reflection on the screen, I forget who I am. I decide who I am. I am a himbo. we need more HIMBO’S. ONLY CARING ABOUT YOURSELF LOOKING PRETTY FEELING PRETTY BEING FAKE AND NAIVE AND NOT TOO MUCH IN YOUR HEAD. BEING A HIMBO IS A MEDITATION. ONLY ME-TIME FROM NOW ON. JUST WORKING OUT, GAINING SOME MUSCLES, SELLING OUR BODIES TO THE INTERNET. BEING A HIMBO IS THE FUTURE. I AM READY FOR MY CLOSE-UP. PLEASE PHOTOGRAPH ME IN THIS SWEATY MESS”

Enter the labyrinth and explore the space between virtuality and physicality. Accept the fluidity of your being, and embrace artificial self presentation as self expression. Together we celebrate the beauty of our constructed identities. a̷̡̲͑̆c̴͈̟̫̐̍͑c̸͖̦͂e̴͓͚̰͊͝p̴͖̈́͝t̷̤̒͛y̴̱͛ȯ̸̻͆u̵͙̰̒͋͝r̵͚̝̉̾͂f̵̠̹̑̃͘a̷̹͚͊̅̈k̶̜͗e̷̖͎̒̀̎n̸̥̽̅é̶̡ś̷͔̖̠s̶͚͇͊́̋

*Listen to the audio message below.*

d̺̙̖̼̄ͣ̿ǐ̺͗ͭͦg̣͆͊iͭ͆ͫ̽͗t̪ͮa̱͉͋̓͌̓ͩl̩ ̦͍̂͆ͯ̊̓ͅd̞̜̬̲̠̅u̽c͌̂t̟̞ͮͧ́tạ̩̉̈́ͤͣp̎ͤ̓̆e̮̫͆̂̀̿

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c͕̙̒̅ͤ̍l̇ͬ̂̇̓i̫͚͖͙ͫͨ̂̔͋c̼̀̑ͬͣk̺̭̺̹̥

“In Digital Ducttape vertaalt performancecollectief HipSick online ruimtes en gedrag naar dans en performance. Theater, club en installatie smelten samen tot een aanstekelijke, vet aangezette show, waarin je continu wordt uitgedaagd om te bepalen wat authentiek is en wat fake.” Review in the Theaterkrant. Read the entire review here: theaterkrant.nl/recensie/digital-ducttape/hipsick/

Please be aware that this performance has bright flashing lights, loud music, and no seating. Some seating will be arranged for people who really need it.

HipSick | Performance & Installation Art

HipSick is a Rotterdam based crew which operates at the intersection of performance and installation art.

Their work often starts from a fascination with Western visual culture, normativity and the night. Contemporary social topics are approached from different perspectives, decontextualized and abstracted, which results in performances that aim to destabilize the viewer’s perception.

The work is characterized by extremely visual, brutal performances, artistic rawness and confrontational, personal subjects. HipSick has an unique movement idiom, in which the body and the physical endurance of the performers are central.