How To Howl

Participatory performances, 20-40 min. I organize howling gatherings in galleries, theatres and public spaces. We listen to, imitate, and respond to recordings of wolves. I refer to the audience as a pack, staging role play scenarios inspired by the group dynamics of wolves. By participating in a ‘wolf- transformation-hypnosis’, the audience gets acquainted with the concept of ‘shifting’ i.e. mentally transforming into a wolf.

Three years ago, I found a YouTube video by teenage girl who demonstated how to howl like a wolf. Her name was WolfOfShadows1986 and she spoke about her experience of being a 'Therian', a self-defined term used by those who identify as an animal. I was excited - but not suprised, that there are people all over the world who howl. Who are they howling to? Do they gather in packs? Where?

I decided to learn how to howl myself, mixing techniques from metal growling and voice projection. I howl in my apartment, under bridges and in the green areas of my suburban neighbourhood. Once in a while people howl back to me.

Most people want to howl, but they dont know it. I'm here to remind them. I provide a stage, a social context.

I record the audience with a loop pedal, playing with distances between the microphone and vocalist.

**Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam 2023.** Midnight, at a dance floor. Suddenly the music stops, and I start to howl. At first the entire crowd start to howl back. A stage is spontaneously shaped around me, and I invite people to step into it and act out different scenarios and attitudes.

**Scenography with textile banners.**I play with the idea of messages coming from the space itself, speaking directly to whoever walks in-and-out-of-context. As if the space itself calls for action, and I, the performer arrive there as its mediator.

I want you to imagine, just imagine, that deep down DEEP, inside of you, something - or somebody, is stirring...

- wolf transformation hypnosis

If there is such a thing as a collective unconsious, then it holds a special place for wolves. They show up in our fairytales, mythologies, on T-shirts and in daydreams. We fantasize about meeting them, connecting to them, becoming them - and protecting ourselves from them!