Arno Schuitemaker

Work

O S C A R

A portrait is more than a depiction. It is imbued with meaning, it mirrors, tells stories, and invites dialogue. Existing at the intersection of the outer and the inner world, the seen and the unseen, but also the individual and the collective, a portrait goes beyond mere representation. Often considered as something static—a moment, frozen in time—it can also be a process of becoming, shaped by our roots, scars, and unspoken dreams. Whether still or dynamic, it preserves the essence of someone while simultaneously being influenced through the eyes of the viewer. It is both a reflection and a projection. But what happens in between? And what distance do we choose?

O S C A R takes a physical perspective on a living portrait—of the three performers and the audience. With everybody together on stage, a mirroring floor and countless shadows open up a multidimensional encounter, merging performance and installation into one, inclusive interplay of our singularity and what we share—and what we contribute. At its core, the performance intertwines three successive solos. Through their movements, each performer expresses identity and lived experience, grounded in their individual histories. Intimate, poignant, and propulsive, O S C A R unites embodied journeys of freedom and empowerment. No human is limited.

“One of the big highlights of the Biennale des arts vivants (...) Three dancers amidst the audience. And that is it. And it is brilliant.” — Culture Déconfiture (France)

Created during the Covid pandemic, O S C A R arose from a longing for human connection, proximity, and the power of shared space during—and after—times of isolation. Sometimes performed independently in diverse contexts, from galleries and clubs to outdoor public spaces, the solos accumulate new meanings with each setting.

Photo: Bart Grietens

Photo: Bart Grietens

Photo: Bart Grietens

Photo: Bart Grietens

Photo: Bart Grietens

Image: Dammes Kieft

Photo: Bart Grietens

Credits

Creation: Arno Schuitemaker
Performers: Ivan Ugrin, Mark Christoph Klee, Paolo Yao
Dramaturgy: Guy Cools
Music: Aart Strootman
Lighting design: Jean Kalman
Scenography: Jean Kalman, Arno Schuitemaker, Paul Beumer
Costumes: Sarah Nixon
Technicians: Vincent Beune, Paul Beumer

O S C A R is a production by SHARP/ArnoSchuitemaker in coproduction with DansBrabant, La Place de la Danse – Centre de Développement Chorégraphique National / Toulouse-Occitanie and Théâtre Garonne, supported by Dutch Performing Arts, and Sala Hiroshima. O S C A R is created with contributions by Performing Arts Fund NL, Amsterdam Fund for the Arts, Ammodo, Fonds 21 and NORMA Fonds.

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