ARK 1 explores the precarious futures of human culture amid the life-altering interventions of artificial intelligence and ecological crisis. It proposes an archaeology of the future that questions: how will the history of humanity be archived, remembered, and technologically retrieved in the aftermath of coming catastrophes?

Set in the future, a fictitious bio-technology corporation VESSELS INC created the spaceship “ARK 1” to preserve the distant memory of human life. As Earth’s resource depletion and degraded ecosystems threatened human extinction, VESSELS INC launched ARK 1 into deep space equipped with the technology for sustaining artificial life. Onboard, an algorithm digitally reconstructed the dancer Leah Marojevic to preserve the muscle memory of human experience. After aeons had passed, ARK 1 was finally detected by an intelligent life form that salvaged an assemblage of deteriorating data from the ancient ship. With no knowledge of life on Earth, they created a cosmic archeological record of Earth’s post-human remains.

Text: Carlos Kong

 CREDITS

Choreography, Text & Video: Colette Sadler
Performance: Leah Marojevic
Video & Installation Design: Mikko Gaestel
Sound: Samir Kennedy, Heiko Tubbesing & Colin Self
3D Animation: Alexander Pannier

Objects : Valentin Hartweck
Dramatury: Alan McKendrick
Costume: Eyal Meistel & Zoe Sebanyiga

ARK 1 is funded by Nationale Performance Netz “Stepping Out” Fund and Creative Scotland. Coproduction Sophiensaele and Tanz Im August 2021. Presented as an exhibition in the context of Goethe Morph* Iceland, with the support of the Goethe-Institut and Nordic House Reykjavik. Residency support from Tanz Haus NRW, Fabrik Potsdam and TWR Glasgow.