In addition to coordinating blood pressure and body temperature, processing pain stimuli and sensory impressions, a major part of the human brain’s activity involves triggering one’s own actions and pooling the consequences arising from them in a meaningful whole. As far as science knows today, our cognitive performances are practically limitless. The performance Assessment combines various aspects of this cognitive process, from recognition to decision and to action. Based on the example of terrorism, it deals with the authenticity of self-awareness whenever rational decisions need to be made or justified. We are always able to reconcile our own interests with the fact that we cannot control everything. Someone’s ideas may be torpedoed by perfidious interference, permanent encroachment, threats, or even destruction, ultimately growing into radical grievances. If, in addition, our own agency is reduced to a single option, this can only mean one outcome: terror.

Roland Rauschmeier, born in Augsburg, Germany, in 1974, studied philosophy in Munich, Berlin, and Vienna. He attended Renée Green’s class for conceptual art at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna and graduated in 2004. His artistic practice belongs to the post-Internet art movement that deals with the impact, aesthetic, and socio-cultural implications of the Internet. Roland Rauschmeier’s formal work ranges from performance to sculpture and painting and even to digital media.

Nicola Schössler studied acting at the Folkwang-Hochschule Essen. Since 2002 she has been working as a freelance actress/performer and occasionally does her own projects. She has performed at theaters in Bochum, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Mainz, Freiburg, Hanover, Vienna, Salzburg, among others. Documentary theater with Hans-Werner Krösinger (HAU, Berlin), collaboration in dance and performance with Wim Vandekybus, Ivo Dimchev, Claudia Bosse and Mirjam Klebel. She can also be seen in cinema and television films, including Tatort, Heimat 3 and Heimat Fragmente by Edgar Reitz.

Brigitte Wilfing is a choreographer and performer. 2019: MA in Choreography with specialization in New Performative Practices at Uniarts Stockholm University. She is currently a PhD student with choreographic composition at the ARC of mdw Vienna. 2019: Founded the transdisciplinary ensemble andother stage with composer Jorge Sánchez-Chiong; since then commissioned works by Wien Modern (2019, 2021), Kulturkatapult in cooperation with Ensemble PHACE, among others. Further works at the interface of new and experimental music and movement took place at Musikverein Vienna, with Ensemble PHACE (Work, Wien Modern) Kunstradio Ö1, Musiktheatertage Wien, Radiokulturhaus Wien, Donaufestival Krems, Forum Frohner Krems, Junge Oper Stuttgart.

Heinz Leitner, born in Judenburg in 1984. Matura in mechanical engineering/automation technology; studied German philology, philosophy and theater studies in Vienna. Self-employed as dramaturg, assistant director, technical director at Studio Molière, project coordinator, scenographer, event and exhibition technician at the Wiener Festwochen, ImPulsTanz, Wien Modern, Viennale and steirischer herbst, among others.

Thomas J Indge is a seasoned performer and accomplished composer who relocated to the culturally rich city of Vienna during the early stages of the pandemic. With a wealth of experience honed through years of work as a pianist, keyboard player, and musical director in London’s prestigious West End and on international tours, he continues to make a significant impact in the music industry as a composer for recording artists and in the realm of visual media.

An Artist Talk will follow the performance on Friday, February 17^th.