Ecological crisis on stage: Karin Pauer's LOW” at brut Vienna

Ecological crisis on stage: Karin Pauer's LOW” at brut Vienna

Things are going well again in Vienna! On October 10, 2025, brut Wien ushered in the new season and at the same time celebrated the last one under the artistic direction of Kira Kirsch. The premiere of the piece “LOW” by Karin Pauer took place at the brut northwest venue, which urgently addresses the pressing issue of the global ecological crisis. The piece is part of the work cycle “practices for potential futures” and follows on from Pauer’s previous work “AVA”, which dealt with the connection between human and water bodies and which premiered at the brut Vienna in December 2024.

The performance “LOW” is not only a creative delight, but also a critical examination of the devastating effects of human activities on the oceans. In a landscape characterized by exploitation and decay, the dancers Hugo Le Brigand and Ixchel Mendoza Hernández, together with Karin Pauer, show an apocalyptic reality. A central prop is a huge net, which is used by the performers to illustrate the dangers of overfishing and the destruction of maritime habitats. “LOW” criticizes the destructive use of the oceans and addresses human beings’ ethical conscience. Various technical means such as the lighting design by Sveta Schwin and the live background noise by Rozi Mákó are also used, which reinforce this haunting atmosphere.

A deeper look behind the scenes

How exactly is the scenery in “LOW”? The piece takes the audience into an underwater wasteland that is both an archive and an oracle and addresses the remnants of industrial violence. The performers create rituals of embodied contradiction that are vulnerable and uncompromising. The plot highlights the threatening effects of deep-sea mining, seismic drilling and acoustic warfare on marine biodiversity. In fact, a UN panel on the ecological risks of deep-sea mining warned at a conference in Samarkand, where the parties to the Bonn Convention from February 12 to 17, 2024, agreed not to take any action until sufficient scientific information is available. OceanCare, a partner of this convention, highlights the urgency to protect fragile deep-sea ecosystems and halt the progressive loss of endangered species.

“LOW” was well received on opening night, and audiences can look forward to another performance on October 8, 2025. Following the performance, there will be an Artist Talk, moderated by Astrid Peterle, which offers an exciting opportunity for exchange between audience and artists.

These ever-relevant topics make LOW a must-read for anyone interested in the future of our oceans.