The group 3 monos presents its project for ENTOLEARTE, a multidisciplinary artistic initiative that took place in the former San Rafael Psychiatric Hospital in Castro de Ribeiras de Lea (Lugo). This project, promoted by the Rede Museística Provincial de Lugo, invited creators from various disciplines to intervene in the space of the former asylum, seeking to commemorate its memory and generate a reflection from artistic sensibility before the building was put to other uses.

Butoh, through its critical conception of the human being and its exploration of the unconscious, aligns with the complex dynamics of a psychiatric space, addressing themes such as resistance, health and illness, and domination. This dance, which seeks to integrate dichotomous elements through the freedom of the body, moves into this marginal space, a heterotopia. The idea of domination will guide the visceral choreographic research, developed in a retreat. The space of the former psychiatric hospital, from the gallery to the staircases, will become the stage.

‘Esperanza’ arises from Matilde J Ciria’s sensitive immersion in the Psychiatric Hospital, exploring domination through dialogue with the space. A play of light and shadow, the alteration of time and the listening to the environment guide the exploration. Ropes appear as symbolic elements of binding and path.

UNCONSCIOUS DIALOGUES WITH THE MEMORY OF THE PLACE

‘Esperanza’ is the result of a sensitive exploration by Matilde in the San Rafael Psychiatric Hospital. Butoh, with its ability to question norms and explore the unconscious, establishes a natural dialogue with the tensions present in this space. The piece seeks to experience the idea of domination through a choreographic research that moves away from rational analysis, prioritizing the visceral response to the environment. Elements such as light, the manipulation of time and active listening to the space become fundamental tools. The ropes act as metaphors for physical and psychological bindings, as well as for the possible connections within this labyrinth. The choice of the psychiatric hospital as a setting seeks to challenge conventional perceptions and explore the human condition in an extreme context. The final quote introduces the theme of the loss of identity and the struggle for individuality in an environment of control.