TITLE: Microbial Cellulose Costume

What is a post-human human being? What does it mean to try to let go of anthropocentrism? The Microbial Cellulose Costume was developed in context of the contemporary dance performance Posthuman days, which premiered in Finland in 2018 at Zodiak – Centre for New Dance. Theoretical references include Braidotti’s The Posthuman (2013) and Haraway’s Cyborg Manifesto (1984). As costume designer I was keen to explore how the philosophical theories informing the work might translate into costume and costume material. My response was to engage with cellulose-producing microbes, and to incorporate my study of this biofabricated cellulose material into the collective process of performance-making.

GENERAL CREDITS

Posthuman days, 2018
Costume design and microbial cellulose: Ingvill Fossheim
Choreography and direction: Jenni-Elina von Bagh
Light design: Ina Niemelä
Set and video design: Fabian Nyberg
Sound design and composition: Tom Lönnqvist
Dramaturgy: Otto Sandqvist
Performers: Jenna Broas, Karoliina Kauhanen, Anni Koskinen, Outi Markkula, Pinja Poropudas

Kindly supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation, Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Norsk- Finsk Kulturfond, RadArt Marked, Aalto University ELO, ChemArts, Aalto studios. With thanks to Gary Numan for the use of Tubeway Army´s  ”I nearly married a human”.

Produced by Zodiak – Centre for New Dance and Jenni-Elina von Bagh.
Premiered 18 October 2018 at Zodiak Stage, Helsinki