2023
Wiener Blumen
Wiener Blumen is a richly layered and provocative performance piece that delves into the intersections of aesthetics, history, and ideology, particularly focusing on the seductive power of fascist imagery and symbolism.
- The title, Wiener Blumen (Viennese Flowers), draws from Marlene Dietrich's famous song "Sag mir, wo die Blumen sind" ("Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"), a poignant anti-war ballad.
- The reference to the blue cornflower is particularly striking. Historically, it has been associated with Austrian nationalism and later appropriated as a symbol by Austrian Nazis, and in the 1990s, it became linked to the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPÖ). This botanical imagery serves as a vehicle to explore how symbols are co-opted and recontextualized by political ideologies.
- The piece seems to examine the theories of mass seduction, particularly how fascist regimes used aesthetics to captivate and manipulate populations. This aligns with ideas explored in Susan Sontag's famous essay on Leni Riefenstahl, "Fascinating Fascism", where Sontag critiques the glorification of Nazi aesthetics in Riefenstahl's work and broader culture.
- It also a piece about Dietrich's outspoken anti-fascist stance. Her legacy is contrasted with the cultural and political landscapes of both her time and today, exploring why figures like her remain controversial or marginalized. By tying historical Nazi symbolism to its resurgence in modern far-right politics (e.g., the FPÖ's adoption of the cornflower), the piece highlights the persistence of these ideologies and their ability to adapt and thrive in new contexts. The botanical imagery serves as a metaphor for how these "roots" of evil continue to grow and spread, challenging the audience to confront the ways in which such symbols infiltrate mainstream discourse.
