PETER IS BACK
A Machine Performance by Amir Yatziv, 2025 (55 min)
Impresario: Dr. Noam Gal
“Honored members of the Academy! You have done me the honour of inviting me to give you an account of the life I formerly led as an ape.”
We cannot be sure who says these words, a monkey or a human being, but whatever the speaking creature in Franz Kafka’s 1917 A Report to an Academy may be – he is back! And he is going to actually meet you and tell you something about reality today.
Peter is Back is a live meeting between the artist Amir Yatziv and a CGI avatar brought to life using advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology. How apish someone could be – you’ll have to see for yourself. But, still, the artist and his created character talk about life, about the latter’s journey into humanness, and out to post-humannes. They talk about bad habits and instincts, like those you
may try to hide yourself. Like a “monkey of the new world,” Peter can follow a script while improvising and responding to the conversation with Yatziv as it unfolds. This ability to shift between structured dialogue and spontaneous interaction allows for a fluid, dynamic exchange that mirrors the uncertainties of identity we all share.
But you see, there is no magic here, the entire machine is exposed, and you are invited to take part in the mutual transformation across species. Peter may leave you little choice but react and create. Try to come as open and tolerant as possible, things could get wild, you know, as on any new frontier. Let it live, that possibility of not-knowing what to say or feel with Peter, you are only human.
Anyway, Peter is here. And would probably stay for a while.
Tickets 10€ at the door only
Trailer:LINK
