The concept of “scenography” originated in the theatre, but it no longer refers to classical stage design alone. Nowadays, the staging of space occurs throughout the public sphere: from the political speech to the shopping centre, from the virtual worlds of video games to prison cells and entire villages. This issue of Passages shines a spotlight on the various aspects and applications of an art form that, although it is still not very well-known, can be found nearly everywhere. In addition, the current issue offers a glimpse into the ongoing preparations for the 2015 Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space. For the first time, an interdisciplinary team appointed by Pro Helvetia is curating the Swiss entry for the world’s foremost scenography event.
Including contributions by:
Arnold Aronson on the origins and the future of scenography
Markus Lüscher, Imanuel Schipper, Barbara Zürcher and Claudia Rüegg on curating the Swiss entry for the Prague Quadrennial
Martin Heller in conversation with Till Briegleb on scenography’s omnipresence
Bernadette Fülscher on the staging of Switzerland
Further topics:
In Rome: A Dialogue Between Artists and Scholars
In New York: Early Works By David Weiss
In Saint Petersburg: A Swiss/Russian Theatre Project