Consul and Meshie

Man viewed from the perspective of the animal : an eye-opener

Apes are considered to be the most 'human' animals. Thus they reflect our idea of humanity. At the beginning of the 20^th century the chimpanzees Consul and Meshie lived among a group of people so that they almost became congeners. In this performance Antonia Baehr and Latifa Laâbissi shamelessly take over their identity and occupy an installation of Nadia Lauro which has nestled, far away from the stage, in the small corners of theatres and museums.

In two leather car seats Consul Baehr and Meshie Laâbissi exhibit themselves for 3,5 hours while the public can freely come in and leave. The performers imitate the animals, go deliciously wild or try to control themselves. Consul and Meshie makes us think about the violence of cultural norms, such as man and animal, nature and culture, woman and man.

Multi-artist Latifa Laâbissi is artistic director of Extension Sauvage, an artistic and pedagogic programme in Brittany. In 2016 a monograph of her complete work was published by Les Laboratoires d'Aubervilliers and Les perses du réel. Until 2019 Laâbissi worked in association with CCN2 – Centre choréographique national in Grenoble and Triangle – Cité de la danse in Rennes.

In her work, which leans towards choreography, Antonia Baehr investigates the rules and laws a society imposes on the body so that it would become comprehensible and recognizable. She is a performer, film maker and visual artist and likes changing parts in her many cooperations : from project to project every artist becomes the host or the guest.

Nadia Lauro develops her work in different contexts, such as open landscapes and museums, where she wants to generate new ways of looking and being together by scenographies, architectural interventions and visual installations. Her works of art were already to be seen in Europe and Asia. For more than ten years Lauro has made scenographies for the theatre work of Latifa Laâbissi.

Free busses:
* 25/11: Departure at 16h from Villeneuve d'Ascq (Parcours: Consul and Meshie + Unforetold + Labourer)
* 25/11: Departure at 16h30 from Valenciennes (Parcours: Consul and Meshie + Labourer)