The conquest of the useless

The caretaker of a warehouse spends his days working in an organized routine of actions. Until something catches your attention and completely everyday gestures are transformed into something surprising, giving narratives to elements and things. The character will wonder what is the use of the useless? Is there anything really useful in our daily tasks or is everything absurd?

In The conquest of the useless, the game, the acrobatics and the movements are presented as an exploration of the passage of time. Juan Pablo Corvalán brings to the stage a solo where contemporary circus, theater and sound will allow us to observe a series of apparently useless actions but endowed with reflections and questions about our way of inhabiting the world.

"The challenge for us would be to be able to transmit the desire and beauty of observation and appreciation of how simple things can give us space for imagination, calm and deliver enjoyment through simple things. Likewise, ask ourselves about the possibilities of contemporary circus and multidisciplinary crossover," says Corvalán, who in addition to performing, directs the work.

This creation is the result of research that began in residence at the Nau Ivanow center in Barcelona, ​​and then in Chile, at Espacio Czechoslovakia, Nave, Estación Mapocho and GAM. According to the director, the creation began thanks to the interest in the exploration of materialities, objects and from boredom.

"I think that in these frenetic times it is very important to take the time to observe what we do daily, to be able to return to the space and emptiness of leisure as an abyss towards the possibility of other things happening. It is as if we have (I include myself in this) a deep fear of seeing what happens if I do nothing," he concludes.

Concept, dramaturgy, interpretation and direction: Juan Pablo Corvalán | Comprehensive design: Catalina Devia | Lighting design and technical manager: Julio Escobar | Musical creation: Alejandra Jani Muñoz | Theoretical accompaniment, external view, stage co-dramaturgy: Ana Harcha | Choreographic accompaniment: Francisca Sazié | Multimedia and aerodynamic technical design: Camilo Ramírez | Advice on illusionsimo: Arturo Fuenzalida | Technical support and collaboration: Esteban Amaya, Marcelo Troncoso, Victoria Paz | Production:Virtual Circus and Inés Bascuñán. | Communications: Virtual Circus | Audiovisual and photographic record: Camilo Ramirez, Andrea Serrano, Nave, Franco Berrios Heredia, Espacio Czechoslovakia

Collaborators: Espacio Czechoslovakia, Centro Nave, Centro Cultural Gam, Fundación Santiago Off, Fundación Cuerpo Sur, Estación Mapocho Cultural Center. | Residences: Nau Ivanow (Barcelona), Czechoslovakia Space, Nave Center, Gabriela Mistral GAM Cultural Center, Mapocho Station Cultural Center. | Residence 2023 collaborators: Javiera Osorio Ghigliotto, Rodrigo Latorre, Nicolas Zapata.

Co-production: Espacio Czechoslovakia and Virtual Circus