ERNESTYNA ORLOWSKA

The performance LEADER is a videoperformance

that intertwines physical and conceptual elements to critically examine key aspects of our neoliberal society. The performer, dressed in a custom-made full-body suit, embodies a visual intersection between protective workwear and the romanticized elegance of a princess gown. The suit itself becomes a symbol of the tension between physical labor and an idealized, almost unattainable notion of perfection.

 

The central object of the performance, a 26 kg roll of lead sheet, serves as a powerful symbol. On one hand, the material alludes to traditional physical labor, with all its intensity and hardship. On the other hand, lead’s toxicity metaphorically reflects the long-term harm caused by constant overexertion—whether physical or mental.

 

The performer’s interaction with the lead highlights the duality of control over the material and the necessity of accepting its inherent properties (weight, malleability, toxicity).

 

The simultaneous recitation of 101 productivity tips amplifies this tension. The absurd and often contradictory demands of the tips mirror the omnipresent pressure to constantly optimize oneself. The use of AirPods—a contemporary symbol of individualism and flexibility—underscores the disembodiment of modern labor.

 

Discomfort arises from the impossible simultaneity:

The performer’s physical presence and genuine

exhaustion contrast starkly with the immaterial and often dehumanizing world of self-optimization. The title LEADER intertwines multiple layers of meaning. “Lead” refers to the weight and toxic burden of the material, while “Leader” critiques the capitalist glorification of leadership roles and success. This double entendre provokes critical reflection on what leadership means in a society that prioritizes productivity above all else.

 

The performance is an unflinching exploration of the conflicts between body and mind, effort and optimization, and the broader implications of productivity in a capitalist world. It challenges the audience to question the boundaries of labor and self-optimization, ultimately exposing the absurdity of these demands.

Concept, Choreography, Directing: Ernestyna Orlowska

Performance: Izabela Orzelowska

Cinematography, Editing: Alain Guillebeau