Make It Fit
- at the Graduation Show
Performance,25min
2024
Make It Fit is the key of living:
The key of setting rules; fix it to make it fit;
The key of solving problems, fix it to make it fit;
The key of standardisation, fix it to make it fit.
Make It Fit is the essence of progress!
Make It Fit is the lubricant that reduces friction.
Make It Fit is the cornerstone of ensuring stability.
Make It Fit is what we say and what we are told; it’s what we agree on and execute it. Make It Fit is practical wisdom that transcends mere knowledge, emerging from the interplay of reason, intuition, and cultural norms. It is the harmony of perception and judgement that is widely acknowledged as sensible and rational.
Make It Fit empowers you to navigate the complexities of existence and discern truth amid the intricacies of life.
Make It Fit is a consensus.
Make It Fit is a collective consensus.
Make It Fit is a collective consensus through compromise.
Fitting clothing, fitting shoes, fitting smile, at the fitting dinner.
Fitting species, fitting techniques, fitting conditions, in the fitting greenhouse.
Fitting research, fitting diploma, fitting publication, in the fitting institution.
Fitting language, fitting gesture, fitting speech, on the fitting stage.
Fitting identity, fitting topic, fitting network, in the fitting market.
Fitting manifesto, fitting critique, fitting radicalism, at the fitting history.
Fitting diversity, fitting inclusivity, fitting democracy, in the fitting country.
Fitting silence.
Fitting fairy tales, fitting legends, fitting beliefs.
Fitting memories, fitting writing, fitting archive.
Fitting childhood, fitting growth, fitting life.
Fitting humor, fitting irony, fitting laughter.
Fitting care, fitting empathy, fitting tears.
‘Fit’ makes it right.
‘Fit’ makes it safe.
‘Fit’ makes it work.
Make what fit where?
This seems like an unsolvable question.
Make[ ] fit [ ]
This seems like the question with infinite possible answers.
(However, perhaps it is not so. These brackets remind me of exams, where even if there is no standard answer, there is an expected answer. They also remind me of filling out forms in various contexts, such as customs, taxation, and contracts… I must choose my words wisely and honestly to fit within the brackets.)
Let’s just put some words in the brackets and you will know what I mean
Make [ the lid ] Fit [ the pot ]
Make [ the key ] Fit [ the hole ]
Make [ the music ] Fit [ the vibe ]
Make [ the ass ] Fit [ the jeans ]
Make [ the behavior ] Fit [ ethics ]
Make [ the work ] Fit [ the grad-show ]
Make [ Yourself ] Fit [ the group ] the neighbourhood the society the country the system the natural law
(This parallel sentence with overflowing brackets is making me breathless)
Make It Fit is general and versatile, serving as a guideline that can be applied to any context.
Make It Fit is a humble instruction that is sharp and clear, and yet leaves room for contemplation.
What if something doesn’t fit?
Out of place, out of shape, out of time, out of hand, out of outline.
At this moment, you may have the impulse to move what is ‘out’ in.
This is a beautiful and primitive impulse.
Make It Fit is a natural choice.
Make It Fit was coded in our genes, our culture, our system. It’s our code of conduct.
There will always be someone to fix it and to make it fit.
Make it fit is pronounced /meɪk//ɪt//fɪt/
To pronunce /meɪ/, lips tap and split, corners of mouth split, stretch and turning up a little bit. Similar to smiling.
/meɪ/ is tracing a curved line, the tone rises and then drop a little bit.
/meɪ/ is sticky and flirty.
To pronounce /ɪt/,Lips open up a little bit, teeth split, tongue touch teeth a little bit. To pronounce /fɪt/,Up Teeth touching lower lips, corners of mouth split, tongue touch teeth a little bit.
/ɪt/ and /fɪt/ are shooting two dots, short and quick.
/ɪt/ and /fɪt/ is sharp and punchy.
Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit Make It Fit
Everyone can catch the rhythm of Make It Fit, it’s catchy, like an irresistible ear worm. (Perhaps it has already caught you.)
Dear fitist: Let us keep in mind that empty talk will do nothing for us; only solid work will make it fit !
This version of ‘Make It Fit’ performance is dedicated to the situation of ‘graduation show’ and the space that I am performing, Gipsenzaal.
This piece is a performance, functioning as speech, manifesto, poetry, concert, and ritual. It constructs a theatrical situation through the precise composition of spoken words, live instruments, scenography, and meticulous mechanical enactments. The phrase “Make It Fit” recurs throughout the performance in varying contexts and rhythms.
Appropriating the language of propaganda by grotesque chanting, stating disassemling, contextualising, and repeating, language becomes the in-between of sound and sense, signal and noise, narrative and poetry. The impossibility of perfect execution of ‘script’ introduces awkwardness and humor, creating absurdity within the solemn scenario. The self behind the authoritative character gradually emerges, revealing vulnerability beneath the rigorous apparatus an personal memories shaped by collective consensus.
Make It Fit explores the performances and performativity of both individuals and authorities within the context of social norms, and examines how these normalized social actions and artistic performances interact. This simple and general yet abstract phrase generates the fictional ideology of “Make It Fit-ism.” It provokes diverse questions: What is fit? How to fit? Why fit? And what types of language and voices can be widely heard in the current society?
Make It Fit addresses political urgencies, institutional critique and identity politics. While we search for a 'fitting' way to escape the confines of 'fitting in,’ we also yearn for the security and comfort that ‘fitting’ brings.
Appropriating the language of propaganda by grotesque chanting, stating disassemling, contextualising, and repeating, language becomes the in-between of sound and sense, signal and noise, narrative and poetry. The impossibility of perfect execution of ‘script’ introduces awkwardness and humor, creating absurdity within the solemn scenario. The self behind the authoritative character gradually emerges, revealing vulnerability beneath the rigorous apparatus an personal memories shaped by collective consensus.
Make It Fit explores the performances and performativity of both individuals and authorities within the context of social norms, and examines how these normalized social actions and artistic performances interact. This simple and general yet abstract phrase generates the fictional ideology of “Make It Fit-ism.” It provokes diverse questions: What is fit? How to fit? Why fit? And what types of language and voices can be widely heard in the current society?
Make It Fit addresses political urgencies, institutional critique and identity politics. While we search for a 'fitting' way to escape the confines of 'fitting in,’ we also yearn for the security and comfort that ‘fitting’ brings.
Pictures by Helena Roig
- Gogbot Festival 2024
Picture by Roy te Lintelo
- Melkweg Expo Amsterdam
Picture by Françoise Bolechowski
Concept, direction, text, composition and performance: Tingyi Jiang
Suona player: Tomaj György, Vitória Bento
Performer: Anna Lora, Lola Chevron Brankovich, Lila Maria de Coninck
Music: Linus Bonduelle
Costume: Hee Eun Kim
Choreography Advice: Chuyue Xiao
Monotone voice: Lila Maria de Coninck, Lewis Beal, Charlotte Roschka, Miche Ohiggins, Ossip Blits.
Videotographer: Jinglei Zhang