Flavia Marcus Bien, De la noche a la Tierra (2020), video still. Courtesy of the artist.
Please join us on the opening weekend of El Corazón Aúlla at The 8th Floor for Trans-cimiento, a new performance by Costa Rican artist Flavia Marcus Bien. The durational piece completes a trilogy of performances progressing through representations of a trans individual’s death, burial, and rebirth, with the preceding work De la noche a la Tierra (2020) also on view in the gallery. Rooted in pre-colonial burial rituals and inspired by the traditional Latin American song "La Vasija de Barro," Trans-cimiento will take the form of a re-birthing ceremony in collaboration with historical interpreter Cheyney McKnight, honoring the lives of trans women lost to interpersonal and societal violence.
The gallery will be open from 11am to 3pm on October 1, reopening at 3:30pm for the performance. Trans-cimiento will be followed by a conversation with the artist at 5pm.
All of our events are free and open to the public. RSVPs are required and can be registered here. Information on the associated exhibition can be found here, which opens with a reception on September 29. For information about visiting our space, navigate here. Please note that our Covid-19 policies and accessibility guidelines will be updated before our 9/29 opening. Email us with any questions.
Flavia Marcus Bien is a queer / trans performer based in San José, Costa Rica. Through her work, she explores intersections of societal, environmental and gender problematics. She uses her body as a canvas, often integrating technological elements with intricate settings and costumes. Her life experiences as a Jewish, Latinx, and trans person, as well as having grown up between the city and the rainforest, dictate the artist's line of work. Although Flavia considers herself as a performer, she uses her background in singing, theatre and communications to create intricate and critical universes. Flavia has been able to present her work in numerous galleries in Costa Rica, such as the Spanish Cultural Center, Despacio Gallery, Satisfactory Gallery and the Contemporary Art Museum of Costa Rica. She has also been featured in movies such as “La Piel del Agua” by Patti Velazquez and numerous short films.
Image description: A person with light skin and long brown hair faces away from us, her arms stretched out to the sides with a long strand of tree bark hanging on them. The person is surrounded by dark greenery in a forest, appearing to look upward.