“Life is a Lab” is a live audiovisual performance that blends poetic tinkering, critical engagement, and low-tech aesthetics. Set on a compact stage transformed into a visual laboratory, the piece brings to life a miniature world where repurposed objects, resistance archives, recycled materials, and real-time footage are animated under surveillance cameras. These live projections compose a politically charged and emotionally resonant narrative that questions how we inhabit the world.
Through this hybrid and immersive setup, “Life is a Lab” offers a unique experience in which the audience becomes an active participant in the unfolding process. The work addresses powerful themes such as ecology, nomadism, ecofeminism, activism, and the critical reappropriation of technology. It blurs the lines between performance, visual art, and installation, while embracing an aesthetic rooted in gesture, improvisation, and repurposing.
Rejecting the polished norms of high-end technology, “Life is a Lab” embraces deliberate simplicity and the poetry of handmade creation. By slowing down the flow of images and foregrounding artisanal practices, the performance encourages us to reimagine our relationship with reality, to sharpen our critical gaze, and to collectively envision alternative futures.
Katia Vonna Beltran (Fr)
Katia Vonna Beltran is a nomadic multidisciplinary artist whose work encompasses photography, video, and performance, with a particular focus on live cinema. Her practice is characterized by a hybrid audiovisual approach that blends low-tech and digital elements to create miniature theatrical worlds. These worlds come alive through real-time filming and projection, utilizing repurposed objects, recycled materials, and archival footage to construct narratives that explore political and ecological themes. Her performances delve into concepts such as modern nomadism, ecofeminism, activism, and the critical reappropriation of technology, inviting audiences to reflect on alternative ways of living and engaging with the world.
Beltran’s work is deeply rooted in the DIY ethos, emphasizing simplicity and the poetic potential of handmade creation. By eschewing sophisticated technological tools in favor of accessible, low-tech methods, she fosters an inclusive and participatory artistic experience. Her performances not only challenge conventional artistic boundaries but also serve as platforms for social commentary and collective imagination. Through her art, Beltran seeks to make visible different forms of action and resistance, encouraging a shared emotional engagement that resonates with contemporary societal challenges.
With over two decades of international experience, Beltran has presented her work across various countries, including France, Germany, Finland, Morocco, Turkey, and South Korea. Her commitment to exploring the intersections of art, technology, and social issues positions her as a significant figure in contemporary artivist practices.
Informations
- 04..05.2025 | 17:00
- Exit11
- 129, rue de petit leez 5031 Gembloux
- exit11.be
Production
- Exit11, Transcultures
- Visuel credits Ban : Hugo Gueniffey, Katia Vonna Beltran
