WIDOW RADIO CHING

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THE HYDROFEMME IN THREE ACTS


A radio operetta, variety show and audio symposium


From the South China Sea to the Danube river, minor ripples become the waves by which the hydrofemme contests the neocolonial frontiers of water in defense of an oceanic commons of substance and thought.

WIDOW RADIO CHING rewrites a fragmented and amorphous ode to the hydrofemme as a sonic essay in (radio) waves, transmitting her as a multi-headed heroine who traces the fissures between bottom-up social organization and top-down politico-economic power. Weaving together textual narrative, sound works, and dialogue with invited guests, WIDOW RADIO CHING will unfold in three acts following a trajectory of queer time — divested of concrete future aims and abandoning overarching, streamlined narratives of the hope and optimism that govern our contemporary political, economic and environmental ecosystems. Beginning from the critical dystopia that is our science fiction present, migration, extraterritoriality and environmental degradation shall take new course expanding upon feminine myths of liquidity, fluid identity and alter-sovereignty in labour.

Featuring contributions from: Shu Lea Cheang, Deborah Cowen, Natalie Galpern, Annie Goh, Aurelia Guo, Elaine W. Ho, Reni Hofmüller, Ming Lin, Astrida Neimanis, Kate Rich, Pelin Tan, Kaitlin Rees & Liam Welch, Tortuga, Eva Ursprung, et al.

a RADIO ACTIVE – SINK and SWIM Eleonore summer residency 2016 project with FM broadcast and netstreams on Radio FRO (Linz) and Radio Helsinki (Graz)

Act I

An unlikely protagonist is found at the origin of fast fashion chain ZARA, where the hydrofemme was born.



The Hydrofemme radio play Act I [2:25], “Widow Ching, Lady Pirate” by Jorge Luis Borges, read by Natalie Galpern [14:26], "The Language of Water" Kaitlin Rees & Liam Welch [56:52], SYMPOSIUM: “Sea Gossip” with Pelin Tan Part I [27:18], Part II [1:00:14].

[Full Transcript]

Act II

Who is the hydrofemme? What secrets is she habouring along the fluid lines of the supply chain?



The Hydrofemme radio play Act II [4:30], “Harsh Laws” by Natalie Galpern [8:56], “The Diary of Ida Pfeiffer” read by Elaine W. Ho & Nina Schuiki [00:21:50], SYMPOSIUM: “Feminist Economics” a conversation with Shu Lea Cheang and Kate Rich [28:00], “Microfeminism” by Annie Goh [51:30], “The Dystopian Technology of the Female Voice” conversation with Shu Lea Cheang [58:12]

[Full Transcript]

Act III

Bottom-up organization meets top-down power forging moments of autonomy and collectivity. We are water and so are you…



The Widow Ching by Natalie Galpern [1:08], Hydrophone by Eva Ursprung [11:27], “The Hydrofemme” by Tortuga feat. Astrida Neimanis [22:56], CARE by Aurelia Guo [31:32], SYMPOSIUM: “Queering Logistics” a conversation with Deborah Cowen Part I [37:44] Part II [01:05], The Hydrofemme radio play Act III [1:24:57]

[Full Transcript]