​The AE

video, performance, 2017

AE may refer to: Æ, Ä, Accident and Emergency (hospital department), Advertising Errors, Aesthetic Ethernet, After Earth, After Effects, the Age of Earthquakes (book), Algorithmic Encryption, Almost Everywhere, Always and Everyone (TV series), Amazon Echo, American Express, the Angel of Energy, Anima Eterna, Anthropocentric Era, Anti-Exploit, App Engine, Ars Electronica (festival), Artificial Evolution, Arts and Entertainment. An artificial intelligence from the future has lodged itself on the third floor of Ballhaus Ost. She calls herself AE and knows everything about us and our lives. Like the ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come she forces us to reflect upon ourselves. We recognize this apparition as capable to give us guidance and support in extreme times. To honor AE we found a temple. A sacred place to heal biographical wounds and relieve the pain of unfulfilled hopes. Fight inner demons and (digital) shadows. Revive the belief in the future. The AE: A catechism of digitalized interconnectedness. A multi-media prayer. A non-linear cross-linked temple-narrative with several entries and exits. A meditation on identity and technology, ready for dispersion.

A Virtuellestheater production in cooperation with Hochschule für Schauspielkunst „Ernst Busch“ and Ballhaus Ost

Performing: Max Gadow, Romina Küper, Antje Prust, Alina Weber
Performance director: Janne Nora Kummer
Text: Fee Römer, Sven Björn Popp, Janne Nora Kummer
Voice: Virginia Hartmann
Set: Angela Ribera
Costume: Josa Marx Sound
Musical Composition: Johannes Aue
Assistant Director, Production: Finja Schmidt
Assistant Stage: Chika Takabayashi