Imago Dei 2010

Let there be light

  

Light is composed of waves, just like acoustics are. Imago Dei 2010 makes light audible. During the Holy Week darkness prevails: the darkness of Jesus’ suffering and death, the darkness of the covered cross, the darkness of altars closed. The bells fall silent, music is but a shadow of elegies. The prophet Jeremiah finds himself led into darkness instead of light. “And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land.“

“Let your tears fall like a flood day and night” (responsory 2, “Sabbato Sancto”). The candles go out.

In the night of the resurrection the Easter fire sparks new life. “Lux aeterna”. The light of Jesus that blinds the unbelieving Saul and converts him to Paul brings life. Imago Dei 2010 sounds of the transition of darkness to light, of the way from the East to the West, from the orient to the occident, from the dark to the red sky. The rising light is the border between death and life. Light is inherent to darkness.

“To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death …” (Benedict, Luke 1).

But Imago Dei also sounds of the transition of the significance of darkness and light in our times. Artificial light is an optical form of environmental pollution. Now, it is light day AND night. In permanent light people keep drifting away from the natural cycles of lightness and darkness. Silence has become lost in the intensity of brightness. What does light mean in a biological sense? Do we need to reclaim darkness? Darkness offers protection, light on the other hand renders us vulnerable. Perpetual light burns us. At the mercy of the outer light, the individual has lost its inner light. Yet, to all people and in all religions, light equals the divine.
The Easter fire is forever burning. In our grotesque society of communication we only talk in flames. Inflammatory speeches are only held to make one’s voice heard. “To her the silenced word.” (Paul Celan, “Argumentum e Silentio”). There is no escaping the bondage of light. Explosions illuminate the world. The catastrophes happen in blazing brightness.

Imago Dei intends to lead you back to the dualism of light and darkness. The art principle of the “chiaroscuro” (“light-dark”) creates the transitions between light and shade. At Imago Dei 2010 the heaviness of the night evolves into the happiness of light; the litany of the songs of hours brings back the ritual of day and night; Notturno and death dance are followed by resurrection and spiritual plays of light; moon and stars shine in the darkness; the sun shines in our souls.

“Oh soul, go look for yourself inside of me.” (Santa Teresa de Jesús, “Lux Feminae”).

Loud light and silent darkness change into silent brilliance and clear obscurity. Let there be light.

Jo Aichinger
Artistic director