The video performance portrays three mining areas used for tourism: the Hambach open-cast mine, the Dead Sea, and the Lusatian lignite mining area. Through travelogues and a repertoire of movements inspired by them, Marlene Helling recounts her encounters with these places. It becomes clear how nature is commodified both as a raw material and in the form of tourism. A 3-channel panoramic projection, which brings post-industrial landscapes in the Anthropocene to life, highlights parallels between the mining areas and how we view nature and make it our own. The vast landscape images engage in dialogue with a body that attempts to encounter the ground with immediate mindfulness.
In her dance and video performances, Marlene Helling addresses social, ecological, and feminist issues as well as site-specific circumstances. Her work is based on research conducted with her artistic team—visual artist Marei Dierßen, video artist Simon Vorgrimmler, and sound artist Juli Grönefeld.
