7

The ultimate wonder of the world

With 7, Radouan Mriziga presents the final part of his trilogy, which follows on from 55 and 3600. Once again, the relationship between dance, construction and architecture plays a central role. He links the moving body to the expression of architectural and sculptural forms. In 7, Mriziga enriches this relationship by adding to it both mystery and imagination. For this he looks at the mythology of the seven wonders of the ancient world. These architectural and artistic tours de force – of which the Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one still standing – mark the victory of human beings over their physical limitations and the laws of nature.

Every era has its own wonders of the world: an impossible idea that then goes on to be actually built, and which is larger and more impressive than anything we have previously known. But isn’t the small human body that comes up with and creates all that greatness wonderful? Isn’t it so very much more mysterious and beautiful than the giants with which we surround ourselves? Mriziga weighs up two standards against one another: the built world, created to impress; and the ultimate wonder of the world: the human body itself.

•  After studying dance in Morocco, Tunisia and France, Radouan Mriziga graduated from PARTS. He now lives and works in Brussels. From this season onwards, he will be artist-in-residence at the Kaaitheater.