Siestaria

We find it important to create spaces where people can feel and express themselves without having to apologize or provide explanations. These spaces can also help establish meaningful connections with others and the world, to rehearse listening to each other and what is around us. We are motivated by shaping encounters that build meaning and inclusive knowledge by manifesting availability towards the subjectivity that each one unveils through their dream. We feel the need and are looking for ways to ritualize, rehearsing the possibility of considering the dream as a concrete entity, a character, a body that can act just like us, an assembled but paranoid creature in which threads of memories tangle and untangle. We could invoke it as a way to break away from the constant pressure to always be productive and efficient. We see dreaming and sleep as potential moments of synchronization and equality. One way of expanding the simultaneousness of the dream state could be the practice of non-verbal dream translation through various means and the sharing of them, to design ways to unite and transmute our dreams. Precisely because rituals seem to be disappearing, it is necessary to find new ways of telling and connecting stories.

In the beginning of this project, we contemplated the complexities surrounding the relationship between process and outcome in artistic endeavor. Specifically, we explored the links, entanglements, and potential conflicts that may arise between the two. “Why do I do what I do? Why do we do what we do? How do we investigate it?” We reconsider the concepts of exposure and vulnerability and explore the potential of a stage. As artists, what are our responsibilities and what do we value? In the realm of artistic expression, we explored methods for dismantling stereotypes and addressing the emotional impact of inadequate statements or affirmations such as: “I am not good enough to or you are not good enough to. If I am joyful, my work is not good enough or deep enough. You must be in crisis to make good work. I am not being productive enough.” Engaging in the creative process can be mentally and physically taxing, which is why taking breaks and allowing ourselves to dream is essential. Sleeping helps us recharge and tap into our subconscious without the constraints of logical thinking.

Upon delving into the utilization of present-day production in the realm of art, we swiftly shifted our attention to an array of significant inquiries and terms that were pivotal in constructing a collective encounter. Our proposal is based on the belief that discussing rest and sleep and sharing our dreams, is crucial for building collective awareness. This awareness can help us reject abusive systems that force us into excessive productivity and prevent us from recognizing fatigue.

These are some key questions and themes we address, (but we have a lot more): What is rest? What forms of rest are there? Do we rest when we dream? What does rest mean for me and my body? How are my perceptions transformed when I sleep and when I dream? Listening to sleep. Singing oneself to sleep. Sleep as an ally, as a collaborating entity. Asking the dream. Dream diaries. Dreams as an archive. Dreams as historical documents. Dreams and identity. Collectivizing dreams, collective dreams, public dreams… Non-verbal translations of the dream. Dreams and sleep of non-human beings.