Orgē (2022) belongs to an ongoing series of vocal and choreographed projects by New York-based Polish intermedia artist Monika Weiss. Originally inspired by the ongoing invasion of Ukraine, Orgē is dedicated to all victims of wars, invasions, and colonial occupations. Conceived as a site-specific choral environment, the piece resembles a forest of voices. “The power of Weiss’s artistic message channels ancient performative vocal tradition of lament—as well as her live-long relationship to and practice of music (the artist was first educated as a pianist and classical musician)—transforms the viewers experience of time and space into a new sonic and visual landscape, and with the participating vocalists or movement performers contribution to the act, like in Orgé, 2022, the piece becomes a collective body.” (Izabela Gola).
The premiere of Orgé took place in 2022 at Furlong Gallery, University of Wisconsin at Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin, curated by Izabela Gola and Robert Atwell, in collaboration with Jerry (Chiwei) Hui as part of To Freedom program. The 2024 edition of Orgē is organized in collaboration with Laumeier Sculpture Park, the live performance will take place at Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum, Missouri Botanical Garden, curated jointly by Nezka Pfeifer, museum curator, Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum, and Dana Turkovic, curator, Laumeier Sculpture Park.