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A lone figure stands tall, slightly slouching. This civilian stands in front a line of military tanks. He is like Superman, without the cape, without the superhuman ability to bend the turret at will or to fly away. The year is 1989. The place is Tiananmen Square. This man, this unknown person armed only with two plastic bags struts to the front of the firing line and his courage (or is it desperation) momentarily disarmed the military prowess of the Chinese Communist Party.

 

For a moment the commander of the tank hesitated and a vacuum of silence is created. This poignant silence engulfed the world watching, waiting for the seemingly inevitable. And his hesitation broke the silence of the everyman.

 

 

In the substation Guinness Theatre:

The video installation of this highly charged piece of history ‘forget2forget’ demands participation. A pile of red plastic bags lie on the floor in front of the screen, beckoning audience members to grab two bags, jump in and do the tango. The instructor leading the tango wears a grave expression on his face, juxtaposing the severity of the issue with simple dance steps, as if saying anyone can do this… but do what?

 

Is it possible hence to remember, just so that we dont forget?