„Intermediality in performing arts“ is a condensed 2-hours master class that aims to analyse different kinds of interactions between theatre and other media in the artistic work of Barbara Matijević and Giuseppe Chico.

Intermediality was introduced in different artistic fields in the 1960’s in order to refer to the artistic phenomena arising when rules and regulations, i.e. forms of representation and modes of perception characteristic of one particular medium are quoted, reflected upon, commented on, transformed and applied in another medium.

In the context of Matijević and Chico’s work, the concept of intermediality emphasises, in particular, the aspect of mutual influence and interaction between the medium of theatre and the medium of Internet resulting in a redefinition of both, which in turn leads to a refreshed perception.

Rooting the lecture in concrete practical examples, Barbara Matijević will elaborate on her and Chico’s performances that are situated in the space between theatre as a ‘physical hypermedium’ (defined by real space, real bodies, real time-space relationship with the audience, and having the capacity to encompass all other media) and the Internet as a ‘virtual hypermedium’ (that can also accommodate all other media – video, text, sounds, etc – but in a non-physical, virtual way). Whether it is through chalk drawings on a giant blackboard, as in [ I AM 1984 ],  through videos playing on a laptop screen [ FORECASTING ], by using internet-sourced DIY machines and objects [ I’VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE ], through the body itself becoming hyper-link [ OUR DAILY PERFORMANCE ], or via a live interaction with a web server [SCREENAGERS ], Barbara Matijević’s and Giuseppe Chico’s performances propose formally inventive, thoughtful and poetic meditations on the complexity of the relationship between man, new consumer technologies and the media.

The master class will revolve around concrete artistic tactics and strategies of negotiation between the physical and the virtual, the offline and the online media, deconstructing the possible ways one can make the mechanics of theatre coexist with the mechanics of the Internet in a live performance.

Masterclass is realised with the support of Teatroskop – regional programme for performing arts initiated by French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, French Ministry of Culture and Institut français Paris.