Because 8 Is Great @ Herma Auguste Wittstock & Declan Rooney. 2003. Braunschweig. Allemagne

- WITTSTOCK Herma Auguste, Because 8 Is Great, 2003 / 45 minutes / live performance / Hochschule für Bildende Künste, Braunschweig, DE Collaboration with Declan Rooney 

Because 8 Is Great consists of eight parts: 

1. No. One: Declan stands on my belly and tries to keep his balance; 

2. Duo: We wear one sweater together and play the guitar and sing “we’ve been so lonely”; 

3. We Have No Time: We face each other and say as fast and often as possible “we have no time”; 

4. Night Sea Crossing: Like in the work of Marina and Ulay we sit at a table and look at each other. After a while I start to move towards Declan and climb across the table towards him. He farts; 

Milky Way: As an interlude a film is shown. Declan and me are drinking a glass of milk, put cling film onto our faces and spit out the milk; 

5. 1977: In black light, after a while our underwear becomes visible; 

6. The Shit/Scheiße Piece: An acoustic piece in techno style; 

7. If You’re Happy: We face the audience wearing black hoodies and looking glum, whispering “if you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands”; 

8. The Candle Piece: We draw a candle for everyone; 

Outro: We look stoned and sing “Heal the world”. 

Because 8 Is Great is combining funny and contemplative pieces. When Declan and me perform, we often seem funny at first sight. But then seriousness, irony, sadness and loneliness appear. 

Photos/Videos: Constanze Schmidt