The term Angel has no sense of existence without its nemesis demon. They both need one-another to become part of existence, so does black need white to exist as Black.
CONNECT WITH YOUR DEMONS is the result of an artistic investigation into the inability or unwillingness to connect with our demons, namely that part in ourselves that we always tend to avoid. Often out of fear of not being found perfect. But are you perfect if you are not true to yourself?
Cast : Alex Akuete – Bruna Poejo – Mirah Lil – Tijs De Wit / Coaches: Karolien Verlinden, Steven Brys and Nina Plantefève-Castryck.
With the support of: Fund For Talent Development, WIPCOOP/MESTIZO ARTS PLATFORM and Rataplan.
(PARADOX) is a reflection of Alex’s personal search for what is right or wrong, what is good and what is bad. Do my own truths stand as one? Fascinating how often I contradict myself while sticking to the same principles Everything is everything and nothing at the same time.
Concept and dance: Alex Akuete / Coach: Gerardo Salinas and Steven Brys / With the support of KVS, MESTIZO ARTS PLATFORM and Rataplan.
Alex Akuete is a dancer, painter, fashion designer. > From 2014 to 2016, he majored in hip-hop and house dance at Let’s go Urban and participated in competitions and dance battles such as So you think you can dance. > He is developing his own style and collaborating as a dancer on The Common People, a project by Jan Martens and Lucas Dhont (premiere September 2016, DESINGEL). > In 2017, he founded the Xray Company artistic collective to give young people opportunities for self-expression. > In 2017, he started XRAY ART STUDIO, a platform to paint artistic stories on existing/recycled textiles.
Unique pieces, based on stories of the artist or client. These creations are incorporated into exhibitions/performances at events in Antwerp (Fameus, Fomu, Kavka) and abroad (Kunstverein Wagenhalle Stuttgart). > In 2017 and 2018, he collaborates with choreographers Fanny Heuten, documentary filmmaker Leonie Deriemaeker and dancer Evelyne Van Hecke of Moving Ground and participates in Museum Night at Fomu. > In 2019 he shows his first performance as Work In Progress in Arenberg as part of MESTIZO ARTS PLATFORM (MAP).
In collaboration with MAP, he continues working and showing Connect with your demons again in October 2020 in Rataplan, but now in combination with the solo Paradox, which he made (Sept ’20) commissioned by KVS.
In the framework of Antwerp Bijou/ Fameus he creates with Nina Planteféve-Castryck Essence of which they showed a Work In Progress at Love at first sight in HETPALEIS (Sept ’21). He is 1 of the 5 players in Who’s Tupac by Jr.cE.sA.r / NNT & KVS.
Pictures: Victoriano Moreno
Imagery
