Ménard's 'Nocturne' Stages 'Erlkönig' as Dance of Shadowy Spirits

French artist Phia Ménard is presenting her provocative performance piece, "Nocturne (Parade)," at the Impulstanz festival. Described as an "attack" on kleptocratic oligarchs, the work utilizes ethereal elements like shadows and phantoms to convey its message.

The performance draws a striking parallel between Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's classic ballad "Erlkönig" and the current political landscape. Ménard's piece evokes the seductive yet menacing nature of power, mirroring the Erlking's lure of a child with the "sweet words" of "Come with me! / I'll play beautiful games with you!" This is contrasted with the underlying threat: "And if you are not willing, then I will use force."

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You dear child, come with me! / I'll play beautiful games with you!

Through this artistic interpretation, Ménard connects Goethe's 18th-century literary work to contemporary issues, where "power-hungry fops first charm, before they take action." The performance uses delicate plastic sheeting to create its ghostly figures, adding a layer of fragility to the critique of oppressive power structures.

"Nocturne (Parade)" invites audiences to reflect on the insidious ways in which power can be wielded, from subtle manipulation to outright coercion, using artistic expression to confront the realities of contemporary governance and influence.

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And if you are not willing, then I will use force.