This performance is based on a film Ella Schöning created called “A Touch of the Schism”. It tells the story of a creature living in a forest who suddenly realizes it isn’t real. After this heartbreaking realization, it tries to return to the smooth flow of the editing, but it can’t. Despite this, the creature continues to dance, hoping that one day ignorance will return, and as long as that hope persists, it keeps moving. The piece embodies cognitive dissonance, something I believe everyone experiences, though some more intensely than others. We often look away quickly and make excuses when we engage in actions that harm the planet, animals, or even other people. With this piece, Ella Schöning hopes to spark some self-reflection in the viewer. And if not that, then at least a moment of wonder!

Ella Schöning is a multidisciplinary artist pursuing an MFA at KASK Ghent. Her work blends mediums such as video, soundscapes, ceramics, installations, performance, and painting to create immersive, vibrant collages of surreal, dreamlike worlds. Inspired by activism and the absurd, she uses bright colors and organic, nature-inspired shapes to explore psychological themes through a whimsical, fairytale-like lens.

Ella’s work delves into the complexities of human behavior, seeking to understand the underlying reasons behind hateful or harmful actions. By presenting these themes subtly and metaphorically, she creates “healing tales for adults”—imaginative reflections that encourage growth and understanding without confrontation.

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