Laff Box
For two months, from September 2015, Showroom MAMA transforms itself into ‘Laff Box’: a comedy club for contemporary visual- and performance artists whose work explores the boundaries between comedy and contemporary art. With Laff Box, MAMA looks at the comedy club as a setting for performance and humour as a means of expression and cultural product.
The Laff Box Comedy Club - Showroom MamaWhile the tension builds for the weekend performances, Laff Box is open to the public during Showroom MAMA’s regular opening times. The décor, by Cengiz Mengüç, is an installation using prefabricated rental furniture for parties. As well as forming the backdrop for the performances, it also provides an environment in which the participating artists’ contributions can be brought together. Under the guidance of artist Marijn Ottenhof, MAMA’s rookies will be on hand to inform about the club’s programme and take care of ticket sales.
With Laff Box, MAMA is looking at the affinities between performance in the contemporary arts and in (stand-up) comedy. Vulnerability, discomfort, absurdism, and the ambiguous distinction between the performer and the performed persona are recurring themes within the selection. Humour is used as a tool to tackle power relations and test biased expectations.
The Laff Box Comedy Club - Showroom Mama
The Laff Box Comedy Club - Showroom Mama
The Laff Box Comedy Club - Showroom MamaLaff Box opens its doors at six locations in the club setting.
A Festive and Musical Opening Night with performances by Echo+Seashell and Steye Felix & Tanja Ritterbex.
19:00 – 23:00
A Sunday afternoon with a flexible and gymnastic
performance by Mireille Tap.
15:00 – 18:00
Open Mic Night hosted by the one and only Eddie the Eagle Museum.
20:00 – 23:00
Mixer, an evening packed to the brim with performances by David Bernstein, Casey Jane Ellison (On Skype), Phillip Ewe and Kasia Fudakowski.
20:00 – 23:00
Devastatingly Experimental Sketch Komedy TV Ob-Pilot MAMA hosts a live-recording of scenes for a sketch-comedy TV show created by artists enrolled in the Master of Fine Art program at the Piet Zwart Institute. Limited seating.
15:00 – 18:00
A blissful night called Doored, full of comedic
performances streamed live from Toronto, Canada, hosted by Life of a Craphead. Performances by Bridget Moser, Christian Arab, Jesi the Elder, Laura McCoy, Peg & Buzz, Neil Lapierre, Sebastian Butt & Charlie Murray, with videos by Aliya Pabani and Zoe Solomon.
20:00 – 23:00
Curated by Nathalie Hartjes en Marloes de Vries with the contribution of David Bernstein, Taj Bourgeois, Casey Jane Ellison, Echo & Seashell, Eddie The Eagle Museum, Philip Ewe, Kasia Fudakowski, Steye Felix & Tanja Ritterbex, Life of a Craphead, Cengiz Mengüç, Marijn Ottenhof, Mireille Tap and Nikki Woolsey.
About HOME
HOME is the leitmotiv by which we encourage conversation about conceptions regarding belonging, representation and identification. HOME is a fundament, the place you return to and anchorpoint for the journey onward. HOME (offline as well as online) is the start of feeling connect to others. Under the name HOME we also present exhibitions in the showroom of MAMA. In collaboration with young makers we express interpretations about HOME | IN REAL LIFE | NETWORKS.
