Fire Walk With Me

The imposing Dominican Church in downtown Krems becomes a desire machine, which whirls around associations, images, and feelings: Ariel Efraim Ashbel, already a guest in 2017 with his brilliant work The Empire Strikes Back, returns to donaufestival with a new commissioned work that he developed especially for this site. Drawing from David Lynch’s film prequel to the TV series Twin Peaks called Fire Walk with Me, the former sacred space transforms into a twilight zone of horror and comedy, where shenanigans unfold and abysses open up in spectacular fashion. Six hours of performance grows in multiple directions, from an installation to a salon, a party, or a concert. Or to something unexpected, which never repeats itself during this long afternoon, but keeps transforming, inviting for multiple visits. Ashbel’s hybrid mob includes international and interdisciplinary artists, combining new guests with longtime collaborators.