Unmanned - Wereld van Witte de With
V2_ presents three performances of "Unmanned" by the US artist and performer Jordan Crandall during the Wereld van Witte de With festival. Unmanned concerns drones, the flying robots made famous by the US Army.
A drone crashes in a backyard in a suburb of a city somewhere in the borderlands of the American Southwest. Various characters, all played by Crandall, become involved in the crash in different ways. A detective goes in search of its cause, and a trucker/cowboy hunting for downed drones along the border enters the picture, as do a firefighter, a drone hobbyist and other local residents. The downed drone becomes a destabilizing force in the neighborhood and inside the characters’ heads. Crandall masterfully illuminates the problems and possibilities of contemporary drone technology without taking a position. The monologues will be supplemented by live images of drones, which will fly through the room, above the Witte de Withstraat and elsewhere during the performance.
Crandall about Unmanned: “Rather then taking a conventional analytical approach, the work is performed live as ‘philosophical theater’: a blend of performance art, political allegory, philosophical speculation, and intimate reverie.”
Unmanned has never before been performed outside the United States or accompanied by live images. The performance will link theater, technology and the street, in keeping with the theme of this year’s Wereld van Witte de With festival: Who owns the street? Unmanned also relates to the Arminius debate center’s Grote Droneshow (“The Big Drone Show”), taking place on Saturday, September 15. The event will feature a camera drone demonstration and a debate on the abilities and dangers of drones: What are they capable of doing, and what are they allowed to do? After the debate, visitors can see Unmanned at V2_ (admission not included in debate ticket price).
Unmanned is Co-Directed by Bryan Santiago.
Jordan Crandall lives and works in San Diego and Los Angeles. He is known for his work as an artist and performer and publishes theoretical writings on new technology: jordancrandall.com
UNMANNED by Jordan Crandall from V2_ on Vimeo.
Practical information
Performance times: Friday 14 September (VIPs and guests only), Saturday 15 September: 22:30 (following the Arminius debate), Sunday 16 September: 15:00.
Location: V2_, Eendrachtsstraat 10, Rotterdam
Performances last approximately an hour and will be conducted in English. Tickets cost €5 and are available during the festival or online in the V2_ store.
Unmanned is part of Festival Wereld van Witte de With and 24uur Cultuur. The Drone used in Unmanned is made available by Camuse: Broadcasting & Digital Cinema.
