Hope

On September 21, 2022, the day before the planned performance, President Vladimir Putin announced a mobilization in Russia. This news sparked a panicked reaction in the American media and a wave of concern among the civilian population. Jana Orlova decided to respond to these circumstances with a performance in which she invited the audience to write the word ‚hope‘ on her body with red lipstick. In response to the ethnically diverse composition of the audience, the artist encouraged them to write the word hope in their native language as well. Her body thus became a living transparent. The event, entitled „Who-More-Is-Me / Humorisms“, also included solo performances by Milan Kohout, Viktor Fuček, Pavel Tichoň, and David Helán.

Midway Artist Studios, Boston, USA, 22.9. 2022, photo author´s archive.