Philipp Gehmacher

 

Philipp Gehmacher lives in Vienna. From 1993-99 he studied at the London Contemporary Dance School and the Laban Centre London. His first choreographic works, in the absence, Holes and Bodies, and embroyder were created between 1998 and 2000 in London. From his investigation of gesture, touch and space, he developed the duet good enough for the opening of Tanzquartier Vienna in 2001, followed by mountains are mountains (2003) which was Gehmacher’s first ensemble piece. In 2004 he created different versions of incubator for Vienna, Berlin, Brussels and Lyon.

Further works are das überkreuzen beyder hände (2006) and like there’s no tomorrow (2007), in which, for the first time, Gehmacher does not perform on stage. Since 2007 he has collaborated with US-American choreographer Meg Stuart for MAYBE FOREVER and the fault lines (2010). Since 2008 he has collaborated with visual artist Vladimir Miller for the video installations dead reckoning and at arm’s length.

In March 2008, Gehmacher developed a new form of lecture performance, in which choreographers talk about movement while moving: walk + talk was presented at Tanzquartier Vienna and Kaaitheater Brussels (2011) with different choreographers. In 2009 he was the first artist in the field to receive the Austrian Advancement Award for Dance by the BMUKK - Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture. In 2010 his latest choreographic work in their name premiered at the festival steirischer herbst, Graz (A). In September 2011 Gehmacher started creating work in museums, the first project being an invitation from the Leopold Museum that led to the installation grauraum mit Egon Schiele inside the gallery. At the end of 2011 Philipp started a theatre collaboration. He was invited by Schauspiel Köln to join the theatre project Das Erdbeben in Chili directed by Laurent Chétouane. In June 2012 Philipp Gehmacher and Rémy Héritier settled and intervened in Hans Schabus' room-spanning installation „Vertical Endeavor“ at the 21er Haus, the Museum of Contemporary Art. In July 2012 the new stage work of Gehmacher solo with Jack premiered at Kasino am Schwarzenbergplatz as part of the Festival ImPulsTanz.

Philipp Gehmacher collaborates continuously with renowned institutions for contemporary dance in Europe, which co-produce and present his pieces.

 

  • Move #1.1 - Workshop by Philipp Gehmacher - 24-28 Nov. 2012, Tmuna Theater, Tel Aviv, Israel
  • Move #1.2 - Philipp Gehmacher's Workshop Presentation - 28 Mon.2012, Tmuna Theater, Tel Aviv, Israel

''The use of the terms movement, embodiment, still, image, space and spatialisation, temporality, form and formless, matter and entity, object and subject, composition, presence and absence seems often misleading. Yet still we use them to describe contemporary dance practice. Without a specific understanding and the will of lending myself as a performer and thus embodied entity to the intentionality of forming presence and physicality those terms remain generic. It is the ‘way of holding yourself’ that creates your presence.

In my course I will attempt to share my practice of creating movement and physical states. It is a practice that is always embedded in the knowledge of being and having a body, trying to surface physicality that is formalised yet grounded in sense perception. Dissociation and the will to put your body under it is as much part of my movement as a sense of split consciousness creating constant change between activity, throw and initiative and passivity, arrest and interruption.

So that dance I’m interested in takes place on several levels, is always already a dance about being embodied right here right now. I believe in movement that is initiated with a sense of the organic i.e. the weight, flow and structure of the body, yet formed, formalised and moulded according to an understanding of representation, communication and perception. So, we will try and find ways to practice physically and through reading the complex formalisation taking place when being present.’’ Philipp Gemacher

 

  • Move #1.3 - 'Art As Border or The Borders Of Art' - discourse event with Philipp Gahmacher in collboration with Tights, 28 Nov. 2012, Hanut 31, Tel Aviv, Israel

''Dear Arkadi, as any other citizen of the world I'm fairly aware of the socio-political situation Israel is in. On the other hand I don't know much at all, live the usual ignorant life we lead or even must lead. As you call your project 'Moves Without Borders' I think the notion of the border, the boundary, separation, community and commonality are strong issues we can discuss. I would like however treat them more philosophically bearing in mind their political implication than treating the politically on a first level.

I am however also interested in discussing my work, the context of the work and the boundaries I have come across in my performance practice. May be Art as such, as a force, a practice, a movement that can be used today would be a good topic to touch upon. But let's talk about it in Tel Aviv prior to the actual event. Best, Philipp.''

 

  • Move #1.4 - 'Walk & Talk' by Philipp Gehmacher - 30 Nov.-1 Dec. 2012, Tmuna Theater, Tel Aviv, Israel

In 2008 Philipp Gehmacher invited ten choreographers to talk about their language of movement on a large empty stage in a Viennese theatre. The result was a surprising multiplicity of voices and stories: every solo testified to a unique view of the body, movement and the confrontation with space.

Philipp Gehmacher: ''Going through parts of my physical history of making movement, trying to make this history available, my voice will be at times personal yet public. My words will mean as much as they can mean and my actions will accept and hold your gaze upon me. Postures, gestures, an extended arm, carrying her across the stage. No sound, no costume, no props.''

Concept and Dance: Philipp Gehmacher Produced by: Mumbling Fish Co-produced by: Tanzquartier Wien Supported by: Kulturabteilung der Stadt Wien, MA7 Premiere: Tanzquartier Wien, März 2008

Watch Walk & Talk trailer here