whatnext

Hundreds of years ago they burned women who frightened them. But witches always found time to build their own fires to dance around. Walpurgisnacht is one of these occasions.
Last night, on Walpurgisnacht #2020 our neighbours, Liebig34, a feminist anarchist house project, broadcasted a live radio show from their top balcony, blasting songs, fireworks and political speeches to the dispersed but cheering, socially distanced crowd below. Then the riot police turned up. A friend described their matching outfits as 'totally Stars Wars Convention'. They certainly were dressed up to the max.

A week earlier, in a neighbourhood mission to bring Julia, an adventurous kitten, down from the highest branches of a tree in the courtyard of our building, we got chatting with some people from Liebig34. They asked us if we'd like to participate in Walpurgisnacht, along with other self-organised projects in the area. One positive effect of these bizarre Corona times is that we now have the time to talk to each other and our local community has had the chance to get to know each other better.

So there we were, Fck the Fckrz collective at our space Liebig12 on 30th April 2020, setting up for a durational performance that we would do through our window and, like kids with a lemonade stand, selling our solidarity masks (raising money for Mission LIFELINE Search and Rescue's initiative) on a table outside the door. Our naive street action didn't last long. The sky turned an intense shade of orange and a huge storm coincided with the arrival of hundreds of riot police who made their presence felt.

Liebig34 continued blasting their tunes from the balcony and their words rained down on the unfolding drama below. From the inside of our window, underneath the question 'WHAT'S NEXT?' we continued with our performance. Behind the window screen, two performers asked each other questions, re-arranged the furniture, played games, anything to pass the time, stuck still in an extended present. This is now, this is still now and this will still be now for a while longer. We continued, initially to an audience of passers-by but soon they had all been pushed away by riot police who occupied the front row. At least they were well-dressed.

Viva the witches of Liebigstrasse!!

Ula: You're doing that thing again.

Marianne: Think it's my hobby now. It's good to punctuate moments.

Ula: By passing out?

Marianne: I follow the nap ministry on instagram. And now, everything's different. I think it's because of that. Because of following them. On instagram. I don't know. But that could be why. It could be why . Everything's changed.

Ula: I can't do it I'm not tired

Marianne: No no it's it's not about sleeping you have to approach it in a different way it's not about like falling asleep at then end of a busy day you know one of those busy days when you've gone around from the top of the city down again to meet people had a drink with someone jobs it's not like you've been on your bike the U bahn you know when your feet hurt all the bloods in them

Ula: so it's like self induced

Marianne: it's just a pause

Ula: a self induced pause

Marianne: like when you close the shutters

Ula: teach me

Marianne: What else pauses?

Ula: Teach me how to pause.

Marianne: Find a comfortable position

Ula: I'm very comfortable thank you

Marianne: close your eyes close your eyes both of them at the same time

Ula: I don't trust you.

Marianne: Put your hands over your eyes and have that heaviness on top of your eyes yeah
That's it I think your ready to go!
Now just, just, just relax all of body
Don't judge don't say oh I'm not relaxed enough you're fine. That's exactly how you need to be and -just stay there for a little bit and open your eyes again and it'll be finished

Ula: I'm exactly where I need to be

Marianne: Feel good?

Ula: No I feel exactly the same as I did before

Marianne: Don't judge it's alright

Ula: Then don't ask me how if I feel good because then I have to evaluate how I feel and I feel exactly the same as I did before