niv Acosta:
Discotropic

Thought-provoking, unconventional, marginalized: niv Acosta’s performance series “Discotropic” engages in a critical interrogation of the racist representations of black bodies in the media. “Discotropic” connects science fiction and disco with the experiences of black Americans. Originally developed in the museum context, niv Acosta combines the most diverse genres with finesse, and transports the atmosphere of a club and underground performance into the space of the theater. As a point of departure for “Discotropic”, he took the sci-fi series Star Wars Holiday Special from 1978. This well-known series featured the African-American actor Diahann Carroll – though merely as a holographic projection, depicting a supposed otherness to the other white actors. niv Acosta dismantles these kinds of stereotypical representations of African-American women in “Discotropic” through strategies such as repeating the provocative dance style of twerking until it becomes alienated from its typical associations – an appropriation and deconstruction of the movements associated with black hip hop: “People think it’s absurd, exhausting, and maybe shouldn’t happen for so long, but it’s about authorship and the black body,” says Acosta. His performance is influenced by queer politics and Afrofuturism. As such, niv Acosta’s activism is inseparably connected to the physical and its representations.

PERFORMERS AND COLLABORATORS Cheikh Abmb Athj, DJ TYGAPAW, Justin Allen, Ashley Brockington, Bleue Liverpool

Originally commissioned by PS122 and previously presented by PS122 in partnership with Westbeth Artists Community.  This project was made possible by generous gifts from MAP FUND (Creative Capital), Jerome Robbins Foundation via PS122 and a successful GoFundMe campaign. A co-operation with SOPHIENSÆLE.