Milky ways

In Passage Nord's catalogue the following is written about Milky ways:

"A performance and an installation based on the remains of a deserted cowshed and texts telling of the dangers of drinking homogenized milk. A metaphor for the dangers of all homogenisation. The performance is a documentation of everything that makes the cow and domestic animals into machines, mere ciphers.

On the walls are collages made of fly paper and udder-infection samples. On the floor are instructional objects, a milking stool for practice in hand milking and charts showing the structure of the udder. Small toy cows in plastic are placed on brown wall-to-wall carpets, while old cattle calls are sung.

On a cattle grating lie the essentially healthy "bridal couple of the year" in national dress from Hallingdal beaming with their milk-white teeth, while a black snake with two cow horns threatens the couple.

The performers, two men and a woman, act out a number of sound sequences with object belonging to dairy farming, the voices are used to create absurd memories about the practical use of the objects. They read nostalgic lines about delving deeper into forgotten pastures."

Milky ways performed at Viborg Teater (Denmark), Malmø Kunsthall (Sweden), Ram Galleri (Oslo).

Source:

Catalogue, PASSAGE NORD 1986-1996. Kjetil Skøien, performance, installation. Donated by: Kjetil Skøien, May 2010. Translation: Ruth Waaler.