caner teker

The word ‘killjoy’ refers not only to the concept of ‘joy’, but also to the act of disturbing and questioning. This tension between joy and disruption leads caner teker to a deep examination of grief as a physical experience. In ‘killjoy’, grief is not only depicted as an emotional experience, but is also embodied through physical intensity and movement.
Together with Élie Autin and Julia Plawgo, teker uses the body as a tool to reveal the often hidden facets of grief. The performance questions how the physical expression of loss influences emotional processes and makes them visible. The black box theatre space becomes a place where the boundaries between performer and audience are blurred.
Here, grief is not only observed, but experienced - as a physical confrontation and emotional journey. ‘killjoy’ creates a space in which the complexity of grief can be experienced, reflected upon and shared in all its nuances. The performance unfolds a power that goes far beyond words and reveals the profound connection between physical expression and emotional experience.

“For killjoy, I examine the connection between work and mourning using the “Moira” character(s) as an example: Mourning women who express and embody the surviving relatives’ grief in their capacity as professional mourners. Therein, I look at sections of the ‘service economy’, of emotional work, of migrant work and of performative work, from time to time also using autobiographical reference. My own perspective as a German-Turkish person as well as my recollection of the ritual farewell for my grandmother inform my research, too.” – caner teker

caner teker, born 1994 in Duisburg-Marxloh, is a survivor, supporter and choreographer. caner teker’s performances deal with the notion of the parasitic, with transformation and autobiographical worldmaking. Through the manipulation of space, time and body, they create images that contain personal experiences beyond queerness and post-migrant identity. caner teker studied at Kunstakademie Düsseldorf and at SNDO - School for New Dance Development, Amsterdam. In 2020, caner teker received the Förderpreis für Bildende Künste der Stadt Düsseldorf and was a guest fellow at PACT Zollverein. caner teker's performances have been shown at tanzhaus nrw, Düsseldorf, HAU - Hebbel am Ufer, Berlin, Gessnerallee Zurich, Julia Stoschek Collection, Berlin, Atonal Festival Berlin, Neue Nationalgalerie, Berlin and Tanzquartier, Vienna, among others. The work KIRKPINAR was purchased for the collection of the Museum Ostwall, Dortmund, and awarded the ars viva prize 2024.

Duration: 60 min.

Note: Loud music, fog and stage blood are used in the performance.