Podcast Behind the Screens – Behind the Scenes | A Data Set of Screams

Photographed from above, this image shows a flat pillow made from braided plastic ropes, on the center of which a grey booklet connected to a string rests. Two other elements on the grey floor are two statements printed in vinyl that read "(not) quantifiable" and "BYOB" with some more letters covered by small clay figures. More clay figures are arranged around these statements.

On a grey floor, the letters "Pleasurable Data" appear in vinyl. Around them, small clay sculptures are arranged in rows and heaps, forming various proximities and relations. From the top of the photo, a grey box with an orange woolen blanket enters the image.

A close-up photo of a booklet resting on a flat pillow made from curled-up white plastic ropes. The booklet's thick grey pages are held by a metal ring. The font OpenDyslexic reads the letters: Data Sets and Lists We Wished Existed. Collection made during the 3rd Counting Feelings workshop with Trans* and disabled participants

A grey booklet with the title "Data Set of Weight. Collecting of objects and materials within a blanket" held together by a large metal ring is dangling in front of a blanket made from knitted orange textile onto which a glossy plastic-like pocket is sewn on the right.

datasetofweight_01.jpg In the middle of this photo, an orange blanket floats, folds and rests across a dark grey bench. The blanket is made from a warm knitted textile, while the pockets are shiny and look smooth to the touch. From viewing alone, the contents of the pockets cannot be determined, but it is clear that the materials are different. Around the blanket, there is floor space with small white clay figures arranged around vinyl fonts. Above, there are two fabric sails: One is an orange textile, one is a fabric made from bubblewrap. On the left, a booklet is dangling down from above so that it can be picket up and read when sitting down and using the blanket.

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Podcast Behind the Screens – Behind the Scenes | A Data Set of Screams

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Another special episode of “Behind the Screens – Behind the Scenes”: Sophie Emilie Beha was in Cologne this time for a workshop that took place at the KHM in Cologne.

Attention, it gets loud in this episode! Sophie and the participants in the MELT workshop scream their heads off. The research project “Counting Feelings” – we also recommend S02 / F03 – by the media art duo MELT deals with the meaning of data for trans* and autistic people. The project enters the next round in a workshop at the KHM in Cologne: it is about screams as resistance and a shared data set. It is about a trauma-specific practice where grief, anger and mistrust come to light. Feelings are collective and powerful tools against structural oppression. The collective cry is collective power.

medienwerk.nrw · Behind The Screens | Behind The Scenes Folge 19 | A Data Set of Screams

The artist duo has been working on the “Counting Feelings” project for more than two years. Thanks to the great interest in data and access to data, they are constantly asking further and new questions, exchanging ideas and engaging in discussion – the “Scream Workshop” is also a result of the previous considerations. The special feature: The auditory material – i.e. the screams – form the data set. They are not evaluated or transferred into data, but are the data set.

Screaming is a “full-body experience”. Taking space can be difficult for many people and the project is also about providing this space. Screaming has a physical and a mental dimension: we raise our voices to the highest possible volume and can ask ourselves questions such as “What are we screaming against?”, “What are we screaming for?” And “What is the name of our cry?”. Some workshop participants scream regularly in their everyday lives, at home or in nature, but for many it is a special experience.

You can find more information about the “Counting Feelings” project and the first podcast episode here: Podcast behind the screens – behind the scenes | Counting Feelings

MELT (Ren Loren Britton & Iz Paehr) investigate and experiment with shape-shifting processes that meet technology, sensory media and critical pedagogy in a warming world. MELT are currently developing projects along four different lines of research: ACCESS SERVER, The Meltionary, COUNTING FEELINGS and Zeitgeber. Practices of design and artistic research that generate material and infrastructural transformations and simmer with trans*feminisms and disability justice are being cooked up. Working with change and melting processes in a kaleidoscopic form, several themes are addressed simultaneously: Climate change, the potential for political reformulations, critical technical practice and the creation of access/access. MELT shares work in the form of videos, installations, websites, lectures and workshops.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
More information about MELT

Sophie Emilie Beha is a multimedia music journalist. She works in various contexts, including music, text, language, curation, improvisation, dramaturgy and poetry. Sophie moderates festivals, concert launches, podcasts and panel discussions. She is also an author and presenter for various public broadcasters. She also curates interdisciplinary events, realizes transmedia compositions and works as a dramaturge for ensembles.
More information about Sophie