Through the Ether (Durch den Äther)

This performance was an experiment in ancient and modern forms of communication.

event:
Energie Raum
venue:
Städtische Gallerie
location:
Dreieich, Germany
sponsor:
Städtische Gallerie
date:
August 2001

Project Notes:

INTRODUCTION
Since time immemorial, humans have had the desire to reach across time and space to communicate with others. Is it only within the past two centuries, since we’ve harnessed electricity, that we have had the capability? Some people believe it began with the telegraph, through wires strung through the air, laid underground, and in the depths of the oceans. Now we use the Ethernet and satellites in space. Others believe that it began in earlier eons, with remote viewing and psychic contact.

INSTRUCTIONS TO THE AUDIENCE
Please write a question in either English or German, and place it in the bowl.

Shortly before 8:00 pm (20:00), I will select the first question from the bowl. I will ask the audience to translate it into English if it is in German, and into German if it is in English. I will then ask the audience to assist me by concentrating on sending the question by mental telepathy to one of my colleagues who is waiting to receive it. Each of my fellow performers is waiting to receive the message at a precisely scheduled time, which will be every 10 minutes between 8 and 9 pm. Once each of them hears the message, he or she will write the answer on computer, and send it to the website of the gallery. The answers will appear in the guest book on the website.

This performance is an experiment in ancient and modern forms of communication. Our success depends on how well the different mediums function together.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EVENT
Every 10 minutes, a different group from the audience assisted me by selecting a question from the bowl, and then helping me transmit the message telepathically. I described the person and her or his location so that they knew where to send the question. We determined that it was possible to send it in either English or German, as the translation would occur automatically. Each time we concentrated on sending the question, the hubbub in the room seemed to fade away. After transmitting for several minutes, we eagerly awaited the answer at the computer. Refreshing the screen regularly, waiting for what seemed forever, each response appeared as if by magic. A voice from beyond…

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