Gisèle Vienne is showing her performance work “Crowd” at the Sophiensaele Berlin, from 13th to 16th November

In “Crowd”, Gisèle Vienne transforms the Sophiensaele Festsaal into a throbbing, introspective rave scene, where 15 performers move in hypnotic slow motion to music by Peter Rehberg. Featuring classics of rave culture such as Underground Resistance and its electronic precursors such as Manuel Göttsching, the piece creates an immersive microcosm of human interaction, longing, and tension. Vienne explores the emotional chaos and fleeting unity within counter-cultures, as bodies pulse, collide, and drift in search of connection. Through meticulously controlled movements, Crowd reveals moments of isolation and collective euphoria, mapping out the fragile dynamics within communities. The performance captures a raw, almost primal search for belonging, underscoring Vienne’s ability to distill complex emotions into haunting visual tableaux.