Diffractive Dialogues: Abstract Humor ^°? // BACKPULVER – Ewa Bańkowska (PL/AT), Frans Poelstra (NL/AT), Olivia Hild (AT)
Mon-Wed 24.3, 25.3., 26.3.2025 // Mon-Tue 14.00-19.00, Wed 16.00-21.00
Image: BACKPULVER
Mon-Wed 24.3, 25.3., 26.3.2025 // Mon-Tue 14.00-19.00, Wed 16.00-21.00
Sharing practice
Bräuhausgasse 40, 1050 Vienna // pay as you wish // Please register via this link // Participation on all days is recommended but not mandatory.
With Ewa Bańkowska and Frans Poelstra, moderated by Olivia Hild.
BACKPULVER is supported by the cultural department of the city of Vienna.
Diffractive Dialogues is a format designed to foster discussions around and through performative, somatic, and artistic practices, inviting both participants and facilitators to contribute actively and collaboratively. At each gathering the contributions of all professionals involved in the performative, somatic, and artistic fields are welcomed and valued.
With the question: Abstract Humor ^°? artists Ewa Bańkowska and Frans Poelstra will intersect and diffract each other’s practices and co-facilitate an artistic enquiry. To accompany Ewa, Frans and the group, artist Olivia Hild is invited to document the sessions artistically and hold a wrap-up moment at the end of the last day.
Monday, 24.3.
14.00–16.00: Ewa Bańkowska, practice sharing
17.30–19.00: Frans Poelstra, diffractive dialogues
Tuesday, 25.3.
14.00–16.00: Frans Poelstra, practice sharing
17.30–19.00: Ewa Bańkowska, diffractive dialogues
Wednesday, 26.3.
16.00–18.00 Ewa Bańkowska and Frans Poelstra co-facilitating
18.30–20.15 Olivia Hild, wrap-up session
followed by drinks (:
BACKPULVER – Think and Practice Tank for Contemporary Dance is an independent initiative launched in 2019 with the primary goal of enhancing the quality of dance training and create a local platform for peer-to-peer artistic exchange. The initiative is currently led by a core group – Alberto Cissello, Martina De Dominicis, and Sara De Santis – with support from the artists Charlotta Ruth, Agnes Schneidewind and Franziska Zauner.
Central to BACKPULVER’s mission is the exploration of peer-to-peer feedback methods within artistic practice, alongside a continuous inquiry into how such feedback can cultivate shared artistic knowledge within the local contemporary dance community.
Ewa Bańkowska (PL/AT) is a performer, choreographer, author and comedienne. She ives and works in Vienna and originally comes from Poland (Łòdź). She studied international relations and political science (master’s degree, University of Łòdź), as well as contemporary dance and choreography (Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance). She creates her own pieces, but also works in external projects as a performer, choreographer and/or dramaturge. Her artistic work can be located between performance and theatre practice, but always remains committed to a choreographic perspective. Bańkowska addresses current issues with a humorous and pragmatic approach. Her work has been shown in, among other venues: Tanzquartier, brut Vienna, WUK, ARGEkultur Salzburg, szene Salzburg, nadalokal Vienna, Raw Matters Vienna, Stary Browar Poznań. She regularly performs stand-up, for example in the context of PCCC* (Politically Correct Comedy Club). www.ewabankowska.at
Frans Poelstra (NL/AT) (*1954). As a child, he spent more time staring into the waters of Amsterdam’s canals than sitting in school. He dreamed of becoming the next Jimi Hendrix, but lacking the talent to play guitar, he turned to the arts – the place where dreaming can be a profession. For him, performing is about keeping channels open – to think, to listen, and to dream. His work blends dance, theatre, music, and visual arts in ways that make people wonder: Am I dreaming? Is this really possible? Or at least acceptable? In recent years, he has collaborated with local artists, notably Michikazu Matsune, Anna Nowak, and Oleg Soulimenko. He is also the co-artistic director of the inclusive school art project Mellow Yellow. Currently, he is planning a new solo work, set to premiere in May 2026.
Olivia Hild (AT) is a Vienna-based artist working in contemporary choreography, installation, performance and teaching. She creates in the field of performing and visual arts. Her works revolve around physical states that she weaves into space. These are shown in theatres and museums, e.g. WUK performing arts Vienna, Theater Odeon/Im Spitzer, MQ Vienna, This Human World Festival, Israel Museum Jerusalem, Diver Festival, BRUX Innsbruck. She has been choreographically and performatively involved in works at Theater am Werk Vienna, Kosmos Theatre Vienna, Werk-X Petersplatz, Ars Electronica, Angewandte Innovation Lab, ARGE Salzburg, Tel Aviv Museum, amongst others. Hild studied Contemporary Dance Education and Fine Arts in Vienna and Jerusalem.