LYNX

On 7 and 8 July, Julidans and Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam present LYNX, the performance by Astrit Ismaili that successfully premiered in 2022 at the 14th edition of the Biennale Manifesta, in Prishtina, Kosovo. LYNX consists of 5 homemade musical instruments which the performers operate using long threads. These musical instruments give the body a new function: The performers move through the space with each movement creating a unique sound. With LYNX, Ismaili explores the limits of the body and further expands them by interpreting and using the body in a new way. 

The self-designed musical instruments are attached to the performers via threads. As the performers move through the space, sounds originating from art, popular culture and politics are heard. Astrit Ismaili fuses these sounds with their own voice and those of the other performers in self-composed songs. This eventually leads to a mixture of threads that create an compilation of different sounds. 

With LYNX, Ismaili explores themes such as melancholy, violence, desire and perseverance and challenges the audience to reflect critically on themselves. LYNX is a fusion of emotion, reflection, social issues, and artistic expression. 

LYNX can be seen on Friday 7 July at 16.00, and on Saturday 8 July at 12.00 and 16.00 in the entrance area of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. The performance is a collaboration Manifesta 14, Autostrada Biënnale, BAU, BijlmAIR, Julidans and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.

Performance is an important art form at the Stedelijk Museum, and the Stedelijk enjoys a longstanding relationship with Julidans. In 2022, Julidans and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam jointly presented two choreographic works by Michele Rizzo, HIGHER xtn. (2019) and REACHING (2021). The two organizations have previously collaborated with choreographers including Ligia Lewis (2017), Alex Baczynski-Jenkins (2019), and Andreas Hannes (2021).

CREDITS 

Concept, composition, direction, text: Astrit Ismaili 

Sound composition and engineering: Leroy Chaar, with support by Fabian Reichle and Jethro Cooke

Performance, choreography: Astrit Ismaili, Blerta Ismaili, Agnes Nokshiqi, Billy Morgan, Logan Muamba Ndanou 

Instrument concept, design and construction: Astrit Ismaili, Mihalis Shammas, Michele Abolaffio  

Production and advice: Titus Nouwens 

Light design: Yaron Abulafia

Production sculptures: Autostrada Hangar

Garments: Flaka Jahaj 

Supported by: Manifesta 14, Autostrada Biennale, BAU, BijlmAIR, 

Assisted by: De Ateliers

NOTE TO EDITORS