Act III, SCENE 1
Act III Scene 1 Du Bist Nicht Was Du Dich Wahnst! (Wanderer) of Richard Wagner’s Siegfried (part three of Der Ring des Nibelungen) 1871, beech wood, disembodied voice, Flint, LED light, seven minutes of silence 04:29 minutes
2017
This performance captures the irony of Wagner’s1,2 claim that opera represents the pinnacle of human culture, juxtaposed with the stark reality of geological permanence.
The work also engages with the irony of the Anthropocene, an era marked by significant human impact on the planet. Even as we leave lasting marks on the Earth's geology, our cultural endeavors remain fleeting. This piece encourages viewers to consider the limitations of human influence in the grand scope of geological time.
1: Richard Wagner’s work is known for its association with anti-Semitic ideologies and its later appropriation by the Nazis. Despite this, I chose to use Wagner’s Siegfried due to its representation of the cultural apex and its engagement with the Earth’s elemental forces. As a Jewish artist, utilizing Wagner’s work provides a personal satisfaction in repurposing it for my own ends, asserting my freedom and existence.
2: As a Jewish person, while I reclaim the cultural output of a fascist regime, I must also state unequivocally that I do not condone the invasion of Palestine or the violence and oppression exercised by the state of Israel.
Artist review by Jamie Limond
