Ghost Writer and the Broken Hand Break

The image of a broken handbrake is evocative of a scene from a nightmare or a disaster scenario in an action film. Contrariwise, it is equally symbolic for a sense of ultimate freedom: going full speed ahead, without brakes. But is movement always an onward motion? In circular movements, the beginning and end coincide.

Miet Warlop is one of Belgium’s best-known artists in the field of performing (and installation) art. In Ghost Writer and the Broken Hand Break she proposes a contemporary, Western take on the whirling we associate with Sufi Dervishes. Three performers whirl on stage for one hour. During Sufi ceremonies, this movement is performed in order to reach a state of spiritual ecstasy. Ghost Writer and the Broken Hand Break is a perceptual experiment, a dizzying experience, but also a reflection on the spirit of our times. The performance blends swirling dance, recitals and music, balancing on the thin line between keeping control and losing oneself.

Photos © Reinout Hiel