“Stop Calling Them Dangerous – Love Story Palestine”

“Stop Calling Them Dangerous – Love Story Palestine” is the 7th edition of a performance series about war and borders. Concept was created by Yoshiko Chuma, focusing on various themes such as Turkey, Afghanistan, and Yemen. This time, the performance is centered around Palestine, and from the viewpoint of Ryuji Yamaguchi—dance artist and educator based in Jordan for the past 16 years. The performance features stories and video images of numerous Palestinians, including those from Gaza, whom Ryuji has lived alongside. This multimedia performance will incorporate live dance, spoken text, music, and video, as well as the artwork of Dr. Khalid Khreis, “Southern Scream” on display at Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.
Created and directed by Ryuji Yamaguchi (@ryujiyamaguchi)
Concept by Yoshiko Chuma (@yoshikochuma)
Performers: Ryuji Yamaguchi, Emran Alamareen (@bboymowgliii), Rand Tadros, Kareem Abusalah (@shaiwka3k), Anas Alqatawi (@bboy_lil_nas_), Lour Madanat (@lourmadanat)
Tickets: 5 JDs Minimum
All proceeds will be donated to Gaza

Midan – Dance Performance

Midan – Dance Performance presents exciting and innovative dances performed in a museum setting, at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (Building #2 Ground floor).
An improvised dance and music performance will be created live in front of the audience by a group of dancers and musicians facilitated by Ryuji Yamaguchi. In addition, some of Amman’s professional dance artists will perform short original dances, from varying dance backgrounds such as: breakdancing, hip hop, salsa and contemporary dance.
Featured artists: Eleanor Lardner, Kenzy Aldaher, Robyn Noftall and Ziqi Yu. The performance will be followed by a short conversation with the audience, moderated in Arabic, with English translation.
Recommended Entrance fee: 5 JD. (Discounted tickets available upon request. Donations are welcome in support of participating artists).

Endless Peripheral Border- Amman

“Endless Peripheral Border- Amman” is a choreographed chaos that explores the  theme of borders and their impact on our world. Directed by New York’s internationally acclaimed artist, Yoshiko Chuma, and co-directed by Jordan-based Ryuji Yamaguchi, twenty dancers and musicians will create a whirlwind of an experience.
Concept: Yoshiko Chuma
Direction: Yoshiko Chuma and Ryuji Yamaguchi
Produced by Midan-Amman Dance Lab, as part of Factory’s Jordan Art Residency & Studios Program (JARS) at Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts
Supported by Jordan National Gallery and King’s Academy
Assistant Director: Emran Al-amareen
Music: Saowah Music Group
Performers: Ahmad Jouhar, Anas Qatawe, Cedric Bezin, Elisabeth Carruel, Emran Al-amareen, Ibrahim Alzoubi, Kafa Gazawi,Kenzy Aldaher, Linn Jansson, Lour Madanat, Mahmoud Shraim, Malek Waseem,Manon Dumortier, Maxim Adham, Raad Tabari, Reema Asendar, Ryuji Yamaguchi, Salleh Bellagon, Tala Asendar, Wafa’ Alsangalawi.
Yoshiko Chuma and Ryuji Yamaguchi have created 9 major works in Jordan and Palestine Between 2007 and 2023, their work has involved over 100 Jordanian and Palestinian artists, and has been supported by the Japan Foundation three times, the Mid-Atlantic Fund, and the A.M. Qattan Foundation, allowing 40 Japanese and American artists to travel to the region.
This Event is part of “Midan– Dance Performance”, a monthly event organized and produced by “Midan: Amman Dance Lab” (@midandance), a contemporary dance company in residence at Factory’s Jordan Art Residency & Studios Program (JARS) (@factory_jordan) – The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (@jngfa). As part of the residency, Midan: Amman Dance Lab also offers ongoing programming of dance technique classes, ChoreoLab, and dance/music improvisation jams.
The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Building 2
Tickets are 8JDs or 4JDs with a valid student ID.

Elements Jam by “Zajal Movement”

Join us in the closing “Elements jam” event of the “Zajal Movement” project!
This event revolves around what is known as the “cypher” – where artists gather to present their expressions, challenge and learn from each other. The Jam will include freestyle dance, beat-box battles, DJing, rap, and graffiti followed by a dialogue between the artists and the audience in order to shed light on topics of interest to the young hip-hop community in Jordan, as well as a tour through the Exhibtion of Zajal Movement that is currently held at the Jordan National Gallery Fine Arts.
Entry fee: 3 JDs in support of the participating artists.
Location: Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Building 1, 3rd floor.
This event is part of “Zajal Movement”, a project co-organized by “Underground Amman” and “the Emerging Art Projects” by Factory – The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.

Midan – Dance Performance

Midan – Dance Performance presents exciting and innovative dances performed in a museum setting, at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (Building #2 Ground floor).
An improvised dance and music performance will be created live in front of the audience by a group of dancers and musicians facilitated by Ryuji Yamaguchi. In addition, some of Amman’s professional dance artists will perform short original dances, from varying dance backgrounds such as: breakdancing, hip hop, salsa and contemporary dance.
Featured artists: Kenzy Aldaher, Faris Kassisieh, and Ryuji Yamaguchi, followed by a short conversation with the audience, moderated in Arabic, with English translation.
Recommended Entrance fee: 5 JD. (Discounted tickets available upon request. Donations are welcome in support of participating artists).

Exhibition of Zajal Movement

Under the Patronage of HRH Princess Wijdan Al Hashemi
The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts Cordially invites you to
the “Exhibition of Zajal Movement”
An exhibition centered around the local hip hop culture & its expressions at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts – Bulilding 1
This event is part of “Zajal Movement”, a project co-organized by “Underground Amman” and “the Emerging Art Projects” by Factory – The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.

Midan – Dance Performance

Midan – Dance Performance presents exciting and innovative dances performed in a museum setting, at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (Building #2 Ground floor).
An improvised dance and music performance will be created live in front of the audience by a group of dancers and musicians facilitated by Ryuji Yamaguchi. In addition, some of Amman’s professional dance artists will perform short original dances, from varying dance backgrounds such as: breakdancing, hip hop, salsa and contemporary dance.
Featured artists: Lour Madanat, Emran Alamareen, Claire Pritchard. Followed by a short conversation with the audience, moderated in Arabic, with English translation.
Recommended Entrance fee: 5 JD. (Discounted tickets available upon request. Donations are welcome in support of participating artists).

“Elements Jam”

Join us for this Hip Hop Jam, coming up Thursday 03.03.2022 from 5 to 8 PM.

Sadeem: Dance & Music by “Zajal Movement”

Join us for a dance & music performance inspired by the ebbs and flows of peace and violence in the world, directed by Alaeddin Rahmeh and Ryuji Yamaguchi.
This 15-minute performance is a result of a month-long process of workshops. The performance will be followed by a symposium with the audience to discuss the themes presented.
At the Jordan National Gallery of fine Arts (Building 1 – 3rd floor)
Project Assistant: Mutasem Al-Abweh
Musicians:
Cedric Bezin
Scott Nicholas
Younis Al-magrbi
Dancers:
Angelina Mario Albandak
Muhamad al-asaf
Yasmin shalalda
Laith Anwar Al faouri
Emran Al-amareen
Lour Madanat
Tala Hussein
Mais Abu Jarur

“Zajal Movement” project

We are delighted to announce the launch of Zajal Movement, a project by Tales of Jordan and part of the Emerging Art Projects by Factory – The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts.

This project contains three programs that will commence starting November 2021 and continue throughout 2022 at the premises of the Jordan National Gallery:

  1. Elements Jam: A monthly event open to the public that brings together youth for artistic and creative competition, inspired by the hip hop culture in Jordan. The Jam includes freestyle dance and beat-box battles, as well as showcases of DJing, rap, and graffiti.

2- Sadeem Dance and Music: A weekly symposium that invites emerging dancers and musicians to participate in improvisational sessions, mentored by professional artists. These sessions culminate in monthly performances and discussions open to the public. In collaboration with Midan: Amman Dance Lab.

3- Tales of Zajal Movement: A gallery exhibition that tells the story of hip hop culture in Jordan, from its inception to the present day. The exhibition will curate and showcase visual, audio, performance, and documentary elements, in addition to the artistic manifestations of “Zajal Movement” programs. The exhibition will be held in September and October 2022.

“Elements Jam”

We are glad to invite you to participate in and experience Elements Jam! Jams are a place where we come together to celebrate the culture and five art forms of hip hop: freestyle dance and beat-box battles, as well as showcases of DJing, rap, and graffiti.
The jam centers around a cypher where artists support, challenge and learn from each other in friendly competitions. The audience gets a front row seat to Amman’s best beat box and dance battles as well as showcases of dancing, rap, graffiti and DJ to highlight Jordan’s youth artists.
Program:
– Battles (Top 4 Beatbox, Break dance, and All style)
– Judge Showcases
– Rap showcase
– On site Graffiti art
– & Hip-hop music all evening
Entrance fee: 3 JD for audience in support of the participating art collectives.
At the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (Building #1 – 3rd floor)

“Remote Closeness” Open Call

The Lab of the Future* invites creatives from various artistic backgrounds (performing arts, music and audio productions, visual and fine arts, poetry, video, film, design) to submit artworks as well as ideas for innovative artistic productions for the Remote Closeness event. .With this event, we are welcoming creatives to develop new approaches to remotely connect to, and interact with, each other and the world.
The event will take place in Jordan in July 2021 as part of “Factory’s Public Art Program” and will consist of an online exhibition, a public program with talks and workshops, an interdisciplinary exhibition at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts (JNGFA), along with art trails through different neighborhoods of selected Jordanian cities, where QR codes link to certain artworks exhibited within the event.
All forms of art are welcome, whether physical or digital. If selected, they will be featured in the online exhibition and accessed virtually by the public from different points of entry (by scanning QR codes distributed throughout the country, on the event’s official Instagram account, other social media). Hence, if you intend to produce a physical work or a performative piece, it needs to be realized in a way that is compatible with being displayed digitally (for example by using videos, photographs, recordings, etc.). Only a few selected works will be shown in the physical exhibition at the JNGFA.
Artworks may interpret Remote Closeness in different ways, whether in content or form:
//Tackle notions of isolation caused by the new pandemic restrictions.
//Research / address the concepts of physical and emotional distance / closeness.
//Find approaches to engage the audience despite the distance.
//Create participatory experiences that draw the audience to co-create.
//Utilize the digital realm to create bonds, beyond the barrier of the screen.
//Push the boundaries of ‘forbidden’ proximities.
//Propose novel ways to utilize online platforms to display art productions.
The idea is not only to make your work available through a virtual platform, but to somehow adapt your work to create a tangible connection with the audience. How can it be engaging? How can you elicit some sort of participation? Or maybe even co-creation?
Application requirements:
// Application is open to creative practitioners based in Jordan and beyond
// Applications should be submitted in English or Arabic
// Applications must be submitted by May 17th by completing the online application form.
In case you submit an idea for a new production and you are selected, your production should be delivered by July 3rd and submitted in a format that can be digitally displayed (high quality video, recordings, pictures)
Applicants will be notified by June 4th.
Event dates: July 21st – July 25th
Selection criteria:
The selection is based on curatorial decisions. The jury is composed of the team members of the Lab of the Future and representatives from the organizing institutions (the JNGFA, the Goethe-Institut in Jordan and the Institut Français de Jordanie). Criteria that will be considered in the selection process are:
Originality, innovation and creativity of the concept/idea for the production
Compatibility with digital exhibition formats, whether production is digital or physical
Relevance of the art work to the overall theme
A balanced representation of different artistic genres
Artist and Production Fees:
For new productions: 300-500 JOD (depending on the nature of the production)
Lending fees for existing art works to be showcased in the framework of the event: 150 JOD
In addition, there is a limited provision for extra production fees that may be needed in case of larger productions. It will be awarded following the selection process and based on the applications received.
Copyrights:
In case your artwork/your production is selected, the organizing institutes will claim shared copy-rights for non-commercial purposes in order to share and publish the productions in the framework of the event and online (details will be laid out in the contract with the selected artists).
* The Lab of the Future is an interdisciplinary cultural research and experimentation project with the purpose of exploring the future of art events in the age of the new normal. It is run by a group of nine cultural practitioners from various backgrounds in Jordan and organized and supported by Factory’s Public Art Program / the JNGFA, the Goethe-Institut in Jordan, the Institut Français de Jordanie and funded by the Franco-German Cultural Fund.

Online Interactive Performance: “Machine (Un)learning”

Welcome! We are excited that you would like to contribute to our project and actively participate in our interactive performance on July 29th.
You don’t need to be a professional to be a part of choreography. You can dance, you can just move your body or parts of it. You can even move things around.
Please select your preferred time in order to book your personal interactive dance session online.
And remember: you don’t need to be a professional to join us. Just bring imagination and desire to participate.
INSTRUCTIONS
Read these before coming to your appointment!
1. Find a location with quiet surroundings, good lighting and good Internet connection for the next 11 minutes.
2. Join the call with the Zoom link from your email.
3. The Avatar will lead you through a series of hand movements in order to calibrate.
4. Once you are calibrated, the Avatar will give you a sign and gameplay can begin.
5. After 11 minutes, a sound will signal to you that your session is finished. See you next time!
You will be able to refresh you memory by re-reading the instructions before your gameplay.

SIN LÍMITES: (de)construcción artística de las fronteras, Cordoba

“Sin límites” exhibition will travel to Casa Árabe in Cordoba, Spain in 15 October 2020.

An exhibition organized by the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts in collaboration with Casa Arabe and Curated by Dr. Khalid Khreis and Dr. Rocío Villalonga presenting works of 16 Jordanian artists: Ala Younis, Ahmed El Khalidi, Ahmad Salameh, Asia Sheshani, Dana Kaoukji, Deema Shahin, Dina Haddadin, Firas Shehadeh, Juman Nimri, Khaldoun Hijazin, Linda Al Khoury, Mais el Azab, Mohammad Hawwari, Mo ‘ Men Khalid Malkawi, Raed Ibrahim, Reema Shatat.

 

 

SIN LÍMITES: (de)construcción artística de las fronteras, Ceuta

“Sin límites” exhibition will travel to Museo del Revellín de Ceuta (Revellín Museum of Ceuta) – Spain, in 8 April 2021.

An exhibition organized by the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts in collaboration with Casa Arabe and Curated by Dr. Khalid Khreis and Dr. Rocío Villalonga presenting works of 16 Jordanian artists: Ala Younis, Ahmed El Khalidi, Ahmad Salameh, Asia Sheshani, Dana Kaoukji, Deema Shahin, Dina Haddadin, Firas Shehadeh, Juman Nimri, Khaldoun Hijazin, Linda Al Khoury, Mais el Azab, Mohammad Hawwari, Mo ‘ Men Khalid Malkawi, Raed Ibrahim, Reema Shatat.

“Superfine Arts”

The fourth edition of Spring Sessions is coming to an end! Join us for this year’s exhibition, which will run continuously for 48 hours from Thursday 29 June at 7 PM until Saturday 1 July 2017 at 7 PM. A series of talks, events and happenings will be announced soon.

This event is a culmination of the work produced during this year’s program, challenging notions of personal and collective desires and together exploring what is thinkable, permissible and doable.

Participating artists:
Adam Chad Brody, Ahmad Salameh, Ameer Masoud, Andre Mcheileh, Andrey Pavlov, Batool El Hennawy, Bayan Kiwan, Fadi Zumout, Hanna Al Taher, Husni Khalil, Magda Magdy, Mohammad Tayyeb, Mona Ali, Nour Mujahed, Reem Marji, Reham Sharbaji, Rula Al Tamimi, Sidy Benamar, Salim Salameh, Tala Abdulhadi, Tawfiq Dawi, Yasmeen Kanaan, and Yazan Ashqar.

Workshop conveners:
Batool El Hennawy and Karim-Yasin Goessinger (CILAS), Tita Salina and Irwan Ahmett, Yvonne Buchheim, Andrea Luka Zimmerman and Gareth Evans, and Brian Conley.

Organised by:
Toleen Touq (co-director) Noura Al Khasawneh (co-director/curator), Yvonne Buchheim (co-curator) , Victoria Dabdoub (assistant curator/program manager) , Raed Ibrahim (mentor), Hussam Da’na (technical support).

Spring Sessions is generously supported by:
Patrons: Mohamed and Mahera Abu Ghazaleh Foundation, Haya Al Fayez, Yassin Talhouni, Zein Al Naqib, and Zina Jardaneh.

Sponsors: Al Jazy & Co Advocates & Legal Consultants, Goethe Institute, Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, and the Ministry of Culture’s Directorate of Arts and Culture – Ossama Mashini Theater.

SIN LÍMITES: (de)construcción artística de las fronteras, Madrid

“Sin límites” an exhibition opening tomorrow, Wednesday 11 March 2020, at Casa Árabe Madrid, organized by the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts in collaboration with Casa Arabe and Curated by Dr. Khalid Khreis and Dr. Rocío Villalonga presenting works of 16 Jordanian artists: Ala Younis, Ahmed El Khalidi, Ahmad Salameh, Asia Sheshani, Dana Kaoukji, Deema Shahin, Dina Haddadin, Firas Shehadeh, Juman Nimri, Khaldoun Hijazin, Linda Al Khoury, Mais el Azab, Mohammad Hawwari, Mo ‘ Men Khalid Malkawi, Raed Ibrahim, Reema Shatat.

IN/OUT Festival – The Triplet Code

The Triplet Code are Jordanian blues/rock power trio formed in February 2019. The group consists of bassist and vocalist Abdulrahman Ghabboun, guitarist Vivek Ayer and drummer Mahmoud Tayyem. Inspired by the great Rock and Roll Trios of the past like Cream, ZZ Top and Rush the band strives to push the boundaries of Blues and Rock and Roll with their high energy performances and
live improvisations. Since their first performances the band have created a lot of buzz around town. They are currently writing songs for their debut release planned to come out in 2020.

Members:
Abdulrahman Ghabboun – Bass guitar/lead vocals
Mahmoud Tayyem – Drums
Vivek Ayer – Guitars

IN/OUT Festival – Studio 8

Studio 8 is a non-profit company based in Amman, Jordan. It is a capacity building project that creates forward-thinking, cutting-edge dance works.

It also is an educational project that provides training and provides resources that help performing artists to develop sustainable, prosperous careers

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Statement:

The Laban icosahedron is one of the most renowned physical structures in dance.

It is named after Rudolf Laban (1879 – 1958), who applied the five regular 3D objects to “harmonic” movement sequences, named “scales”.

The icosahedron, upon which Laban based his scales of movement upon, has been used in choreography as a framework for dance routines for many decades.

Mechanics of Movement is a live dance performance inspired by Laban movement analysis, with the icosahedron forms the focal point of the piece, with four performers explore the underlying principles of movement

IN/OUT Festival – Shams Team for Arts

Shams team for Arts is a theatrical team comprising a group of talents of both genders with ages between 15 and 30 years doing theatrical acts aim to put up a Societal issue and the ways to solve it in different frames, whether comedy or drama.

 

Shams Team for Arts recruits the new members through auditions organized from time to time by the team administration to create an opportunity for the talents to express and improve. The team acts embrace issues pertaining to human rights specially women’s rights, children’s rights, right of education, right of life, peace and the many other rights that Contribute in building productive social individuals within the community.

 

The team held several theatrical performances in Jordan including “Street” play within Free International Theater Festival directed by the Tunisian director – Moez Qadeermm, Dhaheyeh 308 (victim 308) play on AlBalad Theater. bekaffi Dhareb (Enough Hitting-violence-) with Nahr ALOrdon institution. Baedni Sghereh (I’m still young) plays with Tadamon Cooperation headed by Former minister Asma AlKhader. Tghaiarna (We’ve Changed) play on Jordan Kuwait Bank Theater.

IN/OUT Festival – Ryuji Yamaguchi, Alaeddin Rahmeh & Asem Al Khoja

1000 Gifts of Dance is a community art exchange between the movement artist, who performs an improvised dance in a public space, and a passerby who volunteers as a smartphone video artist. A total of 1000 exchanges will be initiated throughout the Jebel Lweibdeh and Abdali neighborhoods by numerous movement artists. The compiled video recordings will be screened publicly, promoting a culture of generosity, play, and community. Anybody is welcome to join the project as a movement artist or video artist regardless of experience level, genre, style, age, gender, or ability.

 

How can dance act as a bridge to build common experiences and communion in a neighborhood? How does inclusion of a volunteer video artist in the creative process influence the experience of the video artist or the performer? How can dance in public spaces shed new light on spaces of habitual activities?

 

Ryuji Yamaguchi (dancer, choreographer, educator), currently based in Madaba, Jordan, was born in Japan and spent much of his early life between Japan and the US. After graduating from Harvard University in 2003 with a degree in East Asian Studies, Ryuji moved to New York, where he presented his own work, performed with various artists, and worked extensively with Yoshiko Chuma and the School of Hard Knocks. In 2007, Ryuji was invited to Jordan as the dean of residential life and director of dance, to open a new coeducational boarding high school, King’s Academy. Since then, Ryuji has collaborated with numerous Jordanian and Palestinian artists, and has invited over 40 Japanese and American artists to Jordan. As assistant director and producer to Yoshiko Chuma, Ryuji has created six major productions in Jordan and Palestine.  His latest project “Vibration,” a duo with Hungarian dancer Rita Gobi has been presented in Hungary, Japan, the Netherlands, and at Amman Contemporary Dance Festival 2018.

 

Alaeddin Rahmeh is a Palestinian Jordanian artist specialised in Hip-Hop and performing arts.  He started his journey in 2005 in the streets of Amman.  Later on Ala found himself performing in contemporary and theatrical dances.  Today Ala is a performing arts activist, choreographer, and founder of Underground Amman, where he creates spaces for new and non-traditional expressions of art.

 

Asem Al Khoja began his artistic career in 2014.  After completing his degree in architecture, and while pursing graphic design, he discovered movement arts, especially breakdancing.  Finding the capacity in his body to do power moves, he began exploring acrobatic movements.  His repertoire includes stilts, unicycles, slackline, diabolo, cyr wheel.  A master of juggling, he is currently working on 5 clubs. Asem is also involved in the Red Noses International Jordan since 2018, where he is clowning in different hospitals. Co-founder of Circus House Jordan, he manages a space dedicated to circus, and teaches circus skills to children and adults.

 

Concept/Direction: Ryuji Yamaguchi

Co-Directors: Alaeddin Rahmeh, Asem Al Khoja

IN/OUT Festival – Paul Wiersbinski

I studied video art with Mark Leckey and Douglas Gordon at the Städelschule in Frankfurt (Main) and currently live and work in Berlin. My work has been presented in intl. Exhibitions: “RECORD > AGAIN!”, ZKM Karlsruhe (2009), “Encore”, Museum of Modern Art Zollamt, Frankfurt am Main (2011), “The indifference of Wisdom”, NURTUREart New York City (2013), “Risk Society”, MOCA Taipei (2013), “Monitoring”, Docfest Kassel (2016),  “Showcase”, SPACE London (2018), “Datami III”, BOZAR Bruessels (2019).

Festivals &screenings: “EJECT”, Ex-Teresa Mexico City (2010), SALT Beyoğlu Istanbul (2012), “DysTorpia“, Queens Art Museum New York (2012), Luminato Festival Toronto (2014), European Media Arts Festival, Osnabrück (2010, 2014, 2015, and 2017) and received various prices and grants: a.o. Hauptstadtkulturfonds Berlin (2013).

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Statement:

Mortal Toys – a performative AR-game about control and being controlled.

Participants are invited to join a performative game, in which they try out prototypes of video glasses connected to wireless surveillance cameras, while they are watched by the other participants. They experiment with transmitted body movements, improvised choreographies, are “controlled” and take “control” of others.

 

Participants are invited to join a performative game, in which they try out prototypes of video glasses connected to wireless surveillance cameras. Strangers meet in a semi- public situation and are asked to play, while they are watched by the other participants. They experiment with transmitted body movements, improvised choreographies, are “controlled” and take “control” of others. A hybrid space is created, in which the ideas behind science fiction films are combined with a playful approach.

 

The aim is to experiment with a scenario in which haptic and virtual reality exist next to each other, allowing controlled as well as unrestricted symbolic overlapping areas of language and image. This possibility mirrors the limitless contemporary play with money, power and resources. Ultimately participants will explore the violence of a society focused on algorithmic speed, which constantly pushes for the destruction of haptic and public space through an accelerated concept of time and efficiency.

 

The resulting discussion reflects on notions of immaterialness and intimacy, surveillance as a perverted form of care-taking, technology pointing inwards and the crucial role it plays in the here and now and its future role in social interaction. The workshop confronts these stories of self-dissolvement, our submerging, drowning and diving into the illusions we create, as we explore the origins of illusions. The word itself derives from “in-lusio”, meaning to enter a game. Supported by the Art + Technology residency of SPACE / Goethe Institute.

IN/OUT Festival – Octave

A local independent group from Jordan/Irbid City that was established in 2017 by 6 independent musicians with different eastern and western musical instruments, including traditional and folk instruments. The band is characterized by the revival of the heritage of music and culture by integrating popular folk songs with music and distribution of modern music with the preservation of speech and melody and not to prejudice them.

 

The band uses folk instruments, such as Mijwiz, Yarghul, Ney and Bagpipes, which produces a new harmony between and modern electric musical instruments, resulted in new music called the popular rock/heritage music.

 

The band is known as the first band in the region characterized by this color of art and aspire to spread it to the entire world. They began to achieve the first goal to have an independent recording studio in Irbid with a personal support and without any funding from any recollection or any artistic or cultural association.

 

Band Members:

Ahmad Selawi

Moayad Tahtamouni

Nael Selawi

Abd Mardini

Sami Ahmad

Amjad Mestarihy

IN/OUT Festival – NiliN

Nil and Lin, together NiliN or niliu, are two viruses, errors, qubits shaped/stuck in human bodies/forms. They perform the role of a scientist who takes an event apart in order to analyze/understand it and make a reconstruct out of it, without necessarily any effort in bringing anything new to the table. They feed on waves, light and sound, and play with them to make music in their free time.

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Statement:

The film performance will consist of a live conversation channeled through multi-projections in one space: one super 8mm (or 16mm) and two digital projections, where the three perform separate characters with different languages. «One could also be multiple at once» presents footage from three cities, landscapes and aspects of the everyday in each city, while focusing on what does it mean to be physically present somewhere, and what happens if one could have temporal existences in different places at once? – When does a place become familiar, and -like plants- do we need earth to grow?

Through playing with visual and sound aspects that affect human-perception, and by putting the audience in an active role of taking part in the film with the way they build a narrative, the experience of those who are witnessing the event /physically/ should be staged in which this film performance cannot be experienced behind a screen, each of the audiences could see different aspects of the conversation based on their position to the characters/projections.

Filmed between Amman, Alexandria and Cairo, the layers of the visual aspects of these cities will sometimes overlay, one image or a sound could become more or less dominant than the other, the sound of the narrator(s) alongside sounds from the landscapes would shape the way we see what our eyes are seeing.

IN/OUT Festival – Naif el Zaben

Naif is a photographer and art Film maker, born in Cyprus. His works experiment the connection between color psychology and human behavior, the limits of the mind, and mental disorders.

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Statement:

A contemporary performance art reflects the contradiction between the conscious and subconscious mind by an emotional, uncontrolled and stressful acts through the use of the colors pink and black.

 

Performer’s credits:

Kamel el Zaben, Naif el Zaben.

IN/OUT Festival – Miserable Noise Club

miserable.noise.club is an international experimental musical collective based in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. / Guangzhou, China / Amman, Jordan. Featuring members of Artificial Ghost, Lèng, If Signifying, CAssette and others.  Abood Ashqar and Shaher Majali will be performing a set of deconstructed tracks from miserable.noise.club’s releases Frost Confinement, Given To Heartache, Your Sky Is Corrupt and Dust Coated Departure. Accompanied by visual projections.

 

“It’s an experimental swirl of space synths and post rock dub drone. There’s a wacked out dub feel to all of this as if on a hefty comedown. If only all post rock could be like this.”

-Acid Ted Blog

“For those of you interested in electronic, experimental, ambient, and sound sculpture music, I encourage you to give a listen.”

-Composer’s Toolbox

 

Abood Ashqar

Abood Ashqar is a musician and visual artist noted for his involvement in international projects with a wide array of styles, including Post Metal, Shoegaze, Ambient, Noise, Avant-garde, Electronic and Experimental music. He’s one of the founding members of Artificial Ghost, Departure Archives, and the experimental musical collective miserable.noise.club. Other collaborations include Folk artist and illustrator Mamiko Ikeda (JAPAN), Antimatter (UK), Desperar (JORDAN), and Soulhavens (CHINA).

 

Shaher Majali

Shaher Majali is a musician and humanitarian who performs music for the sake of self-exploration while documenting moments and experiences with sound. He’s one of the founding members of Desperar, a member of miserable.noise.club and part of a wide range of collectives in the art-rock, blues, ambient, psychedelic, progressive and alternative rock scenes.

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Statement:

Our music have been featured and performed across continents all the way from New York, to Guangzhou and Beirut. As an experimental group, we value creating new soundscapes and atmospheres, but not necessarily for the sake of experimentation. We improvise during our performances, and certain tracks sound different live than the original recordings. Throughout our discography you’ll hear Noise-rock, Post-metal, Ambient, Drone, Dub and even Techno. As random as it seems, everything is structured and presented with a calculated and predetermined audible purpose. It’s just music.

Secret Journey- Amman

New York-based Yoshiko Chuma and Madaba-based Ryuji Yamaguchi present a multimedia experimental dance performance at The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts. Using the School of Hard Knocks method, created by Chuma and furthered by Yamaguchi, twenty highly skilled dancers will collaborate from their different backgrounds: from dabke to break-dancing and from Jabal Nuzha to Lweibdeh.

With both Japanese artists having been engaged with Amman since 2007, “Secret Journey: Amman” is a chaotic multilayered documentation of their experiences with the people and the landscape of the city. Using a variety of measures such as video, spoken texts, moving bodies in space, and props emerging on red cafeteria trays, the performance dynamically poses the question: how does one frame an experience?

Here’s are samples from July 2019:
https://vimeo.com/354132909
https://vimeo.com/354088996

This presentation also marks the formal launching of a new organization Midan: Amman Dance Lab ميدان: مختبر عمان للرقص. Midan is a figurative meeting ground for dance in Amman, promoting dialogue and collaboration across genre, geography, and socioeconomic class.

Yoshiko Chuma (conceptual artist, choreographer/artistic director of The School of Hard Knocks) has been an important and utterly unique figure in the dance scene of New York City since the 1980s. Chuma has consistently produced thought-provoking work that is neither dance nor theater nor film nor any other pre-determined category. Her career has spanned 40 years and 35 countries, working with over 2000 artists along the way. In Jordan and Palestine between 2007 and 2016, Yoshiko has directed and produced 6 major dance productions in collaboration with Ryuji Yamaguchi.

Ryuji Yamaguchi, originally from Japan, is a dancer and educator based in Madaba, Jordan. In 2007, Ryuji moved to Jordan as a founding faculty member at King’s Academy, a coeducational boarding high school with a strong local identity and financial aid program. With Yoshiko Chuma, Ryuji has produced six major productions in Jordan and Palestine, invited over 40 Japanese and American artists to the region, and worked alongside Jordanian and Palestinian artists. Ryuji also collaborates with Hungarian dancer Rita Gobi with their duo, Vibration. Ryuji is a member of Yoshiko Chuma and The School of Hard Knocks.

“Secret Journey- Amman”
Concept and Direction: Yoshiko Chuma
Co-direction: Ryuji Yamaguchi
Performers: Anas AlQatawe, Alaeddin Pasha, Raneem Wajeeh Nahhas, Emran Al-amareen, Valeria Dimitrova, Asem Abu Sham, Adam Wawi, Salleh Bellagon, Noor Aljamal, Zaid Aljamal, Haneen Shraim, Mahmoud Shraim, Yiran Zhao, Duanduan Lin, Yanlin Li, Ziqi Yu, Hanae Yoshida, Teera Altal, Hala Aldur, Zaid Zoubi, Mera Diab

Produced by: Midan: Amman Dance Lab ميدان: مختبر عمان للرقص, Ryuji Yamaguchi Dance
In cooperation with: King’s Academy, The Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, Yoshiko Chuma and The School of Hard Knocks, Wa’ad Youth Organization مؤسسة وعد الشبابية

IN/OUT Festival – Drum Jam

Drum Jam is a drumming circle that includes harmony, euphoria, percussion and rhythm to the chaos of every day’s life that was formed in 2010. It includes five to fifteen percussionists. their aim is to bring the energy of life through drumming and percussion in each performance.

The performances are mostly attractive and entertaining and usually attracts many people around especially if it was a street performance where people can actually interact with the band and witness an interactive street performance.

The benefits of drumming have been recognized since ancient times, it is an extraordinary tool that can motivate energies and gather people around through drumming circles performances.

Depending on the show, DrumJam can also work with other art types like Dancing and Fire shows.

IN/OUT Festival – Doublelucky Productions

Doublelucky productions are interested in the invisible infrastructures that define our world: from high frequency trading to smartphone monitoring social media bots. They like to use the theatre space for making these invisible digital architectures visible and tangible. The Berlin based group has been developing performances and video installations since 2004. They toured nationally and internationally, they have been awarded numerous prizes, e.g. The Goethe-Institute Prize.

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Statement:

 

New machines not only want to know where we are, what we purchase, and how many steps we take a day, but also how we feel. When we are emotional, we are focused entirely on ourselves: in our affects, our true selves are revealed. Voice analysis, micro expression analysis, visualizing brain waves are valid methods of so-called “affective computing” to read the truth from the body, making the latest software operate like lie detectors.

In their lecture performance, the artist collective doublelucky productions explores this development of artistic intelligence in the tradition of polygraphs back to medieval divine judgment and looks into a future in which everyone carries a smart truth-finding machine in their trouser pocket. Christiane Kühl and Chris Kondek (text, performance, video), Hannes Strobl (music), Kim Albrecht (IT, data visualization). Thanks to: Adam Butler.

IN/OUT Festival – Blues O Bantaloon

Blues O Bantaloon is a band of four musicians with complete different musical backgrounds gathered to create new sounds by producing Fusion Arabic Music out of (Blues, Rock, Funk Jazz and Reggae).

The band was officially formed early 2012, where Ibrahim Khries (Bass guitar), Bashar Khries (Drums) and Hamzeh Kalimat (Lead Guitar) used to jam in a small house located in one of Amman’s mountains Jabal Al Weibdeh, and used to experiment to the extreme with the music they enjoy.

Later that year, Alaa Khoury (Vocals and Rhythm Guitar) has joined the band to complete the experimentation for music and to improve the sounds the band always wanted to get. The Arabic Fusion Sounds, a mixture of each band member blends together to speak about the daily lives of an irregular youth.

The band has composed an unreleased album to be coming late 2014 to officially expose their sounds in a record.

 

Members:

Ala’a Khoury: Vocalist Rhythm Guitar.

Hamzeh Adiga Kalimat: Lead guitar.

Bashar Khries: Drums Percussion, and back vocal.

Ibrahim khries: Bass Guitar.

Genre: Fusion,Blues, Funk, Rock, Reggae.

IN/OUT Festival – Ayloul

Ayloul (September in Syrian language) was created in 2013 by a group of six students from Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), in Houran Plain northern of Jordan. Since then, the band has grown by building a solid fan base.

 

7th of March,2019 –Jordanian band Ayloul has just launched “Salutate To Al Ghor” Which includes nine tracks that is a blend of different Arabic singing maqamat and traditional heritage melodies with a new style that is closer to the cinematic imagination linked to lyrics that simulate the social reality of the Arab individuals wherever they are.

 

Ayloul has performed in many places since 2013, locally starting from their home town Irbid, Amman, Salt and different cultural centers and participated in many festivals such as Albalad Music Festival, and participate abroad in Egypt, Berlin and Denmark.

IN/OUT Festival – Anastasija Delidova

Anastasija is a German-based, multimedia conceptual artist who does audio reactive 2d-3d site specific video installations, such as map projections altering cathedrals and in-between real/virtual bodies in distorted environments, also costumes and set design. In 2015 she got a bachelor degree in media studies and English philology at the Ruhr-University and a master degree in 2019 at the Folkwang University of Arts in trans disciplinary design. She collaborates with musicians, dancers, stage directors and other artists, participating in group exhibitions, festivals, performances and concerts.

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Work Statement:

 

Certain abstract gestures move, at times irregularly and at others synchronized. Patterns disappear and reappear. Time does not matter here. Individual blocks move along the walls like a moving mosaic. Upon closer inspection, certain details of the room become recognizable in the photographs. The boundaries of space are further dissolved by means of sound. Using on site recordings, the acoustic criteria for space are simulated and transformed into surreal soundscapes during the course of the piece.

IN/OUT Festival – Albaitil Ashwai

New-generation experimental rock band from the Levant of Palestinian origins, based in Jordan. Albaitil Ashwai are inspired by the spiritual journey of wandering Sufi dervishes seeking inner peace and completion. They capture the tenacity of classical Arabic music within a shell of contemporary Ammani essence to personify the voice of their generation through a well-crafted and colourful blend of sonic finesse. Albaitil Ashwai formed in late 2012 by Qais Raja (Composer/Writer, guitar and vocals). The band’s current formation is Qais Raja (Vocals and Guitar), Feras Arrabi (Lead Guitar), Saif Nasser (Bass guitar), Saif Abu Hamdan (Drums), and Ibrahim Al-Najada (Synth).

In 2015 they released their first EP Ya Aleem. Albaitil Ashwai then released two singles (Nesf Al Tareeq, Al Baz Al Ash’hab) in 2016. The first debut album “Nuun” was released and distributed in April 2018 under the label mostakell. Albaitil Ashwai participated in performances to a wide range of audiences in Jordan, Egypt, Palestine and Beirut such as (Redbull Local Vocals, Redbull Music Motorfest, Feed Yemen Charity Concert,Palestine International Festival, El Genaina Theatre, Jesuit Cultural Centre, Cairo Jazz Club and The Art Lounge).

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Statement:

 

Albaitil Ashwai pours mystical inspirations into their lyrics and compositions and serves them with a modern sheen, as manifested in their debut album “Nuun”. Nuun is an amalgamation of Arabic sounds intertwined with a selection of contemporary western elements that are a perfect reflection of the evolved identity of today’s Ammani youth. Sufi inspired lyrics weave through often dark haunting melodies, countered with psychedelic rock guitar riffs and stabs of reggae, all smoothly blended into well-rounded compositions and instrumental arrangements. Albaitil Ashwai delivers a pristine sound, ladled with questions and thoughts that go through the mind of a wandering human who reached enlightenment. And through Nuun, they take you on a fluid journey, ebbing and flowing between contrasting energetic tracks and soothing, transcending ones decorated with Arabic rhythms. Albaital Ashawi collect, preserve, and render the tenacity in classical Arabic music, maintaining its thematic image with a contemporary Ammani feel that transcribes the voice of this generation.

IN/OUT Festival – Alaeddin Rahmeh & Ziad Hajir

Alaeddin is a Palestinian Jordanian artist specialized in Hip-Hop and performing arts.  He started his journey in 2005 in the streets of Amman. Later on, Ala found himself performing in contemporary and theatrical dances. Today Ala is a performing arts activist, choreographer, and founder of Underground Amman, where he creates spaces for new and non-traditional expressions of art.

Ziad started his career as a martial artist at the age of 5 years old, Specialized in revered ancient forms of martial arts from Chine, Japan & Southeast Asia, but he was destined to take a different path after he fell in love with dancing. He was intensively trained in Classical Ballet, Ballroom dancing, Flamenco and Contemporary dance (Jazz & Lyrical) for the first 5 years of his dance career. Ziad is a well-known dance performer & choreographer, specialized in Tango & Tango Theatrical. He holds a couple of diplomas in dance teaching & studio management, dance teaching & learning methods from Arthur Murray International & Trinity College London. He’s a member of CID (International Dance Council) founded in 1973 within UNESCO. Ziad holds his passion for dancing seriously advocating and promoting tango dance in the Middle East and world wild, with great dedication. In 2015 he founded Tangostan Art Organization (TAO) & he is establishing a Tango community by the name of Beit Al Tango.

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Work Statement:

 

One way to survive a voyage is consciously tapping into the unconscious to conduct a mystical and sacred conversation. This conversation takes place in a different realm of the universal mind, between the self and the soul meeting up an elder and wiser spirit guiding it throughout mystical teachings of movement and sounds. The end result of this mystical journey is to find the path and the way back to this realm of existence. And bringing back a treasure of wisdom and knowledge, and the only challenge now is the practical way to take this knowledge and wisdom to a three-dimensional existence, Govern by space and time.