The Neighbor Who Lives Upstairs

HKU Exposure | Installation, Performance, Video work | Graduation Show | Pastoe Fabriek | Utrecht | 2021

The Story of Baśka—the upstairs neighbor—unfolded through a performative installation featuring sixteen identical performers. The piece was built around fragmented glimpses into Baśka’s life, capturing repetitive actions that seemed to freeze a single moment in time—the suspended instant between taking the leap and the inevitable fall, just moments before she jumps out of the window.

Performers rotated every 15 minutes, ensuring the space was never empty, creating the illusion that Baśka was always present. This continuous presence, combined with carefully arranged props and an immersive stage set that invited viewers inside, heightened the intrigue. The interplay of movement, stillness, and shifting identities drew significant attention, adding depth to the suspense and mystery of the scene.

Performers: Katharina Busl, Lobke Roenhorst, Lotte Bierman, Tessa Kortmulder, Sarah Klijsen, Nynke Sansom, Baoyang Zhao, Lova Yu, Agnieszka Tomsia, Sarah Fokke, Liesje Bruinsma, Luna van Acker, Martyna Pekala, Sasa Skovajsikova, Zazi Creyghton, Monika Nowak