Boxblitz

"du stehst da im Stockfinsteren und kannst jederzeit eine in die Fresse bekommen. Und während du das denkst, kann die Faust schon nur noch fünf Zentimeter von deiner Nase entfernt sein ..."

"you're standing there in pitch darkness and can get punched in the face at any moment. And while you're thinking that, the fist could already be just five centimeters from your nose..."

Boxblitz is a physical performance. It is based on classical boxing and combines it with sensory deprivation and artificial sensors.

The fighters are provided with additional sensors to enhance their senses. Touch sensors are built into the boxing gloves. To make the fighters understand the influence of these sensors, a detour through the immediate environment is taken: The boxing ring is in complete darkness. To prevent any orientation through sound, the ring is flooded with loud music. The only way for a fighter to get a picture of their situation is to land a punch. When the boxing glove hits an obstacle hard enough, a single flash of light is immediately emitted. A snapshot burns into the retina. Based on this, further actions of the opponent must be anticipated, the next punch must be planned, which in turn can provide the next visual information.

To generate the flash of light, the fighter also has the option of hitting themselves. However, turning against oneself immediately takes them out of cover, as the opponent gets the immediate opportunity to land a hit through the flash of light.

The complete reduction of the senses to the punch-dependent visual, the shared snapshot leads to a synchronization of perception of all participants: the fighters and the audience. Synchronized in the information pathways of the sensor.

Artificial Senses and Control

The externalization of the ability to orient places the fighter under the conditions of technology. In an environment designed to create dependency on the apparatus, the apparatus dictates the rules. If the apparatus demands attack in order to see, this must be followed. One gives up all control. The attempt to defy the specifications is punished by the system with loss of senses and thus loss of control.

Senses capture our environment. Artificial senses can on one hand overcome natural limitations in the perception of our natural environment, on the other hand they can also enable the perception of a constructed environment.

If perception is a constructed environment, it is thus also controllable.

The Immediacy of Experience

The immediate physicality, the pain and injury make the dependency on the system very directly tangible and force one to conform to the rules within seconds, as otherwise an immediate disadvantage arises that can lead to an unpleasant hit. The staging as a combat sports spectacle in which the audience shares the sensory limitation conveys fascination and threat very vividly. The sensory deprivation and the pounding music create immersion, the unpredictability generates the suspense factor.

Documentation