Daniela Zajc: Forest

2 showings of the project: 12th November in Tabacka Kulturfabrik Košice (Slovak Republic), 14th November in Ostrava (Czech Republic).

The Forest project is the third and last part of  Danijela’s the personal trilogy entitled Niti PraGozd (eng. it is a play of words:  Threads/Neither Treshold/Primeval - Forest). The trilogy was developed by the author’s first performance Threads, in 2019, continued with the performance Treshold, in 2021, and concludes with performance Forest. The author deals with the "engine" of social change i.e. non violent radicalization, and the position of individuum within society, focusing on the position of women. She questions the relationship between individualization and collectivization of society, deals with the dynamics between social and personal crises and look for parallels between the individuum and society.

Performance takes one of the eco-feminist aspects, mainly from one's own position and placement in the social context. The Forest will deal with one's own position in a majority still patriarchal, neo-capitalist consumer society. The purpose and goal will be to show today's social functioning, i.e. a systemic capitalist system doomed to self-destruction. And the absurdity of this situation, in which the major part of society is aware of it, nevertheless does not require radical change (movie Don’t look up is a good synonym for this situation).

In addition to the author, 5 performing dancers/performers and two life musicians are part of the performance. The title of the project “Forest” seeks symbolic parallels with the importance of preserving trees and forests. According to some data, this is even more important than reducing fossil fuels.

Author started developing the project in 2022 in Timisoara (Romania) where she worked with 7 local women performers and dancers and presented Forest - work in progress. In august/september 2023 Danijela worked on solo parts of the project in Circus Residential Network in Rijeka. Research was focused on how waste materials – waste PVC plastic could be used combined in aerial acrobatics. Residence and work in progress presentation was part of Periskop festival organised by Prostor Plus Association.  Show was presented to public in November 2024, Ljubljana, Španski Borci.)