This event is wheelchair accessible.
Life is not useful, that's the title of an essay by Ailton Krenak, a philosopher, activist, ecologist, and one of the most important indigenous leaders of the Krenak people in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The text sharply criticizes our progress-oriented, urban society and condemns the widespread destruction of nature. At the same time, it is an attempt to rewild bodies and cities and slow down the world's inevitable drift toward catastrophe.
Based on this essay, Bruno Freire has developed a danced lecture in which he recites the text while simultaneously translating individual words into movement. The choreography is Freire's personal engagement with Krenak's ideas and invites the audience to reflect along with him. Dance here serves political messages, reinforces the impact of words, sharpens the eye for fine details, and reflects the changing moods of the text—sometimes tragic, sometimes urgent, sometimes imbued with humor and hope.
A search for the wonderful in the world. Or, as Ailton Krenak puts it: “Life is an experience of wonderment.”
Limited capacity!
Text, based on the ideas of Ailton Krenak
Meeting point: Gewächshaus (greenhouse), Merian Gärten
Program overview out & about
Support: Christoph Merian Stiftung
out & about - Kaserne Basel x Merian Gärten
14:00-17:00 Alma Söderberg: Sound a Rose In
15:00 Im Kopf von … Milo Probst: Anarchistische Ökologien
16:00 Patricija Katica Bronic: KLAPA
18:00 Petra Serhal: Gestures of Care: Sihr
19:00 Greet & Soup
19:30 ALICE
21:00 Bruno Freire: Life is not useful
22:00 Night Tour
23:00 Jacob Bussmann: Sceptical Birds
23:45 Patricija Katica Bronic: KLAPA
With a ticket for a single event from out & about, you can attend all events from out & about - Kaserne Basel x Merian Gärten on September 6, 2025!
Bruno Freire
Bruno Freire is a choreographer and performer from São Paulo. After studying communication and semiotics and graduating in dance and performance at PUC-SP (Brazil), he moved to Europe to complete the ex.e.r.ce choreographic master's program in Montpellier. In Brazil, he worked with Sheila Ribeiro, Cristian Duarte, and Thelma Bonavita, among others. Recently, he has collaborated with Mette Ingvarsten and Radouan Mziriga. He is constantly searching for the miraculous and is interested in the development of practices and forms of performative writing. He lives in Brussels.
Credits
Performer: Bruno Freire (BE/BR)
Sound Design : Tomas Monteiro (IT/BR)
Light Design: Laura Salerno (BR/DE)
Provocations: Cristian Duarte (BR)
Assistants: Manon Santkin (BE) et Robson Ledesma (BE/BR)
Acknowledgments : Tarina Quelho, Thiago Alixandre, Calixto Neto, Breno Caetano, Zé Fernando, Louise
Cardon & Cao Guimarães