Transpersonal - Beyond the Self

Nataraja is an interdisciplinary performance artist from Equatorial Guinea, Russia, and Ukraine who came to Berlin via Ukraine. This cultural journey – from alienation to a growing closeness with diverse cultures – is reflected in her physical expression.


Inspired by animation dance and Hip-Hop, the performer moves initially like an avatar: distant, almost mechanical.
Gradually, she becomes more embodied – connecting with history, emotion, and social roles, navigating maternal, paternal, and adolescent transformations.

A space opens where traditional roles are questioned, memories become tangible, and new forms of connection can emerge.


The performance unfolds across three stations in the ethnological collection, selected in the context of the Family Matters exhibition:


Station 1: Cynthia Schimming “No Title” – "Matriarchal care, resilience, empathy and memory are embodied; the body becomes a site of intergenerational reflection." Kristy Nataraja


Station 2: Mandu Yenu Throne (Cameroon) – "Dance becomes a mirror of power, care, and responsibility.
Matriarchal and patriarchal structures enter into a physical dialogue about leadership, control, and self-discovery. How do we lead and govern?" Kristy Nataraja


Station 3: Oceania  (Initiation House from Palau) – "Making transitions tangible. The path from childhood to adulthood becomes a ritual experience, as the animated body embraces change." Kristy Nataraja

Costumes, rhythm, and shared presence create a space that extends beyond the individual – into the collective and transpersonal. The audience is invited to reflect on identity: How are we shaped? What do we carry forward? What can we change?

At the end, there is time for questions and dialogue with the performer and the guide.


PARTICIPANTS


Kristy Nataraja (b. 1990, Kharkiv) is an Afro-Ukrainian interdisciplinary performance artist exploring universal cultural patterns and Jungian archetypes through ritual practices from Central Africa and India. Her work incorporates mask symbolism, traditional gestures, and dream work to bridge scientific, artistic, and spiritual dimensions.

Drawing from years of immersive study in Indian traditions and transpersonal psychology, Kristy combines traditional Indian techniques with modern street dance animation, creating performances that transcend cultural boundaries. Her practice integrates depth psychological concepts and transpersonal psychotherapeutic approaches, offering profound insights into the human experience through movement as ritual.


Andres Markus is a  south-american sound researcher, multi-instrumentalist and educator from Buenos Aires, based in Berlin.He explores the intertwine of ancestry in rhythms, through the modern lense of electronic techniques.

He works with different fields: live performances, music direction, sound curation, artistic assistance & mentorship.


- Meeting point on the 2nd floor (stairwell)
- From 9 Jahre
- For the hearing-impaired
- Belongs to: Care or Chaos?, Family Matters