TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

12:08 PM
Posted by jodi rose

So there I was at the Brandenburg Gate, wandering amongst strangers, randomly hugging them. All part of the art. Gao Brothers, who were blacklisted in China and unable to leave their country for 14 years, and now travel the world performing this hugging theatre. Gorgeous. At first people were a little shy, but once the barrier of physical contact with a complete stranger had been broken a few times, it got easier to initiate and receive the hugs. Some people remained a little awkward and uncomfortable, others threw themselves into each embrace wholeheartedly. When the group hug started, there were more photographers than huggers, but eventually enough people joined in to create a gigantic hugging snake, which generated an amazing energy of emotional warmth and closeness.
Delicious. Truly one of the most transformative art projects I have ever experiences, suffused with goodwill and charmed by the world afterwards. Similar to the Spencer Tunick nuding up with 5,000 strangers one melbourne winter morning, but more interactive.

Talking with a friend later that night, who is literally falling apart from trying to hold this crazy nomadic solo life together, and how emotional stress or loneliness affects you physically. Reflecting on how there just isn't the cultural space to find affection and sensuality without it being necessarily romantic, sexual or having free-love overtones. Guess that's what drives people together, the desire for intimacy, but how contained it all seems when you can only express that with particular people in specific circumstances. Ways to overcome social boundaries.

The Utopia of 20 Minutes Embrace

A mass embrace between strangers orchestrated by performance artists, the Gao Brothers, and Stephan Hausmeister at Brandenburg Gate, Berlin. 'Ladies and Gentlemen, let us hug each other. Ok?'

World Hug Day, Berlin

The latest chapter of my life is vaguely hilarious, have two new jobs as of yesterday, both excellent freelance work with varying challenges and perks. Social geography and high-tech virtual conferencing - am so modern, as emer would say - and uber-hip music related gig. Sweet.