Fliegende Freiheit
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3rd part of a Trilogy* for the Freiheitsplatz, (*part 2: here, part 1: here)
commissioned by Wir*_ eine Grenzerfahrung // Schauspielhaus Graz
in collaboration with children from the Volkschule Tiester & Projektschule Graz:
Amir, Asmira, Aya, Ayman, Azra, Batuhan, Bety, Cornelius,
Darian, David, Dilawar, Dima, Efe, Ela, Elena, Emma, Esther,
Evelin, Frieda, Greta, Grete, Hafsa, Klara, Konstantin, Lilith,
Jakob, Mariana, Mia, Muhammed, Osman, Ricardo, Roman,
Tanja, Theodor, Tobias, Vaness, Zlata.
Teachers: Patricia Thaller, Maria Rabel and Nadine Reyhani
Schauspielhaus Graz: Nina Gühlstorff, Franziska Betz, Lukas Hoscher
Koinobori sewing workshop: Andrea Jack-Voigt and the engaged parents
Photography: Nikola Milatović
support: OeAD
“Fische
Fische sind eigentlich Wassertiere
Unsere hängen in der Luft
Sie atmen Luft
Sie fliegen
Grenzgängerinnen
frei zwischen Wasser und Luft
Es sind eigentlich unmögliche Tiere…
Diese Fische sind Mischwesen
Sie kennen keine Grenzen
Ich denke wir sind auch das Wasser, das wir trinken
Wir sind die Luft, das wir atmen Wir sind nicht von einander getrennt
Grenzgängerinnen
(VIELE KINDER In unterschiedlichen Sprachen…)
Wir fliegen
Wir schwimmen
Wir fließen
Zusammen sind Wir frei”
Flying Freedom was created as part of the project WIR – EINE GRENZERFAHRUNG* at Schauspielhaus Graz, which over three years explored visible and invisible borders in our society. This collaboration brought children’s perspectives into the dialogue: How do they understand the concept of a “we,” how do they experience borders, and what makes them feel free?
Two elementary school classes from opposite sides of the Mur River—coming from diverse pedagogical and socioeconomic backgrounds—joined the project. Together, the children explored the meaning of freedom and imagined flying fish as magical beings that soar over borders. Their reflections, recorded in over 20 languages, formed a multilingual sound collage presented during their performance on June 23, 2023, at the opening of the Hello Goodbye piece, in the main stage of Schauspielhaus Graz.
Their props, inspired by Japanese Koinobori (carp streamers), symbolized wishes for a free and strong future. A blue fabric “water” element, referencing Lygia Pape’s Divisor, offered a playful moment of becoming a collective body—a temporary we.
…with all constraints and nuances that a collective movement brings.
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