Performance MISS by Astrit Ismaili – part 1

‘MISS’ is a pop operette for three performers, who each interpret a music composition using their voice. The three performers represent three important historical references. The first of these is ‘The First Flower’, referencing the evolution of plants into flowering plants and the related change to their sexual reproduction processes. The second reference is Cicciolina, a public figure from the ‘80s whose career evolved from porn star to pop musician to politician and member of the Italian parliament. The third reference is ‘Miss Kosovo’, a fictional figure inspired by the transition of Kosovo from part of Yugoslavia to independent state. The three references have no direct historical connection to each other, but are all born from a similar circumstance in which creativity is used as a tool to cope with restriction and limitation. In ‘MISS’, the three performers represent these three worlds, bringing their questions and problematics into the same space. What does it mean to co-exist?  How can one existence affect the other’s experience? Do we need each other? Can we live together?

Short bio
Astrit Ismaili (born in Prishtina/Kosovo) is a performance artist living in Amsterdam/The Netherlands. Astrit Ismaili is interested in transcending the personal into an extraordinary experience which is delivered through transforming the body by adding new qualities to it, without losing its political urgency. Creating alter-egos, body extensions, wearable music instruments and experiential spaces they treat reality as a playground where norms are transformed or questioned. The artist graduated from the MA-Program at DasArts – Master of Theater in Amsterdam. Ismaili is a recipient of the Young Visual Artist Award 2011 and was a resident at ISCP in New York City. Further they won the Award for Best Director at the Skena Up International Student Festival 2011, received the Forum ZDF follow-up Grant 2013 and won the Awards for Best Video Performance and Best Styling Video at Video Fest 2014. They co-curated a performance event ‘Prishtine- mon amour’ in 2012 in Pristina and they are currently working as an editor for Lost & Found, Amsterdam.  They have showed work at ISCP, New York, S.A.L.T.S., Basel, KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, Kunstverein, Amsterdam, Salzburger Kunstverein, Salzburg, Robert Grunenberg, Berlin, Juliette Jongma, Amsterdam, Frascati Theater, Amsterdam, Corzo Theater, Den Hague, Spielart Festival, Munich, Kaserne Theater, Basel etc.

Credits:
Direction, music composition and text: Astrit Ismaili
Performers: Ivan Cheng, Magdalena Mitterhoffer, Astrit Ismaili
Music production: Vincent Arp
Credits for: Political Woman, Baby Love, Russians by Illona Staller – Cicciolina
Styling: Flaka Jahaj
Dress: Duran Lantik
Shoes: Ninamounah
Flower headpiece: Enrique Arce Gutierres
Glockenspiele: Loden Rietveld

The presentation  of ‘MISS’  at Rozenstraat Rose is a Rose is a Rose is supported by: AFK, Amsterdamse Fonds voor de Kunst

The further development of ‘MISS’ is supported by Mondriaan Fonds

Special thanks to: Matthijs Maria M Walhout, Blerta Ismaili, Flaka Jahaj, Arnisa Zeqo, Zhana Ivanova, Sara Gianinni, Mehraneh Atashi, Moving Art Projects, Tim Franje, Tait Mandler, Les Urbaines, Centrale Fies, Qtopia, Annick Kleizen, Isobel Dryburgh, Arif Kornweitz, Billie Katwijk

MISS by Astrit Ismaili – part 1
Rozenstraat 59, Amsterdam
Tickets € 7, you can buy here