Newsletter #4
Last Sunday, tens of thousands formed a "Red Line" in Brussels as a clear sign to officials to stop the genocide in Gaza.
The following Friday, the war expanded to Iran with daily bombings by Israel.
A group like YouYou Group, with members from 15 different nationalities, experiences these events not as distant news but as lived reality within its own ranks. It is deeply disquieting to live in a world on fire.
How can we 'be with'? This question has driven the group since its founding in 2014—and it becomes sadly more relevant with each passing day.
On 30 May, The YouYou Group concluded the Afield conference on Transitional Justice by Artists with a 30-minute performance: seventeen performers zigzagged through K1's space, stitching visible and invisible places into a weave that entangled the audience too, ending with a final circling gesture. View photographer Veerle Vercauteren's reportage here.
On 15 June 2025, while the "Red Line" formed in Brussels, six members of the group activated Yasmina Reggad's installation at Extra City in a "dernisage" action. Yasmina (visual artist, researcher, curator, and YouYou Group member) explores the liberating power of radio and sound archives—especially those tied to Algerian independence and other Arab liberation movements. What emerges when voices waver at the juncture of resistance and hope? You can listen to YouYou Group's activation here, courtesy of the performers.
Even when there are no immediate performances in view, the group continues to come together in the coming months because it keeps practicing to "be with". A few spots are available for invitees wishing to join the listening salon on 25 June and/or the voice practice on 27 June during our upcoming residency at Kaaistudios. This is a follow up residence after we were generously hosted by Kunsthal Gent. Write to info@newpolyphonies.be
Finally, we round off the month with screenings of Myriam Van Imschoot's early films at the Brussels artist-run gallery Au Jus in a co-presentation with Maru Mushtrieva's story reading. The films prelude Myriam's interest in urban soundscapes and gestures that connect across distances.
All bests,
Myriam and Arezoo
30 MAY 2025
Reportage of YouYou Group's performance at AFIELD, Transitional Justice by Artists. Watch
15 JUNE 2025
YouYou Group's activation of Yasmina Reggad's installation, we dreamt of utopia and we woke up screaming. all before... all after...., at Extra City ' Listen
25 JUNE 2025, 18h00 to 21h00 at Kaaistudios
Listening Salon of YouYou Group
Address: Rue Notre‑Dame du Sommeil 81, 1000 Brussel
YouYou Group have been working on documentation and archival strategies that transmit the oral, vocal and embodied knowledge of The Youyou Group's members. An important part of their work is making in-depth interviews with core members. In this listening salon Justine Maxelone and Amalia Joumady guide the listeners into the backstories. The evening includes a 'potlach' diner (bring a small dish) and a collective listening session. With the support of VGC-grant, Immaterial heritage lives and in collaboration with Will Holder! For participation write info@newpolyphonies.be
27 JUNE 2025, 10h00 to 12h00 at Kaaistudios
Voice practice by YouYou Group
Address: Rue Notre‑Dame du Sommeil 81, 1000 Brussel
In this morning SESSION the voice practice visits elements of The Youyou Group's expanded voice work. It is a two hour session that is guided by main members of The Youyou Group and serves the study of how they can transmit and map voice scores and techniques. For participation write info@newpolyphonies.be
28 JUNE 2025, 19h00 to 20:30 at AU JUS
Screenings by films by Myriam Van Imschoot and reading by Maru Mushtrieva
Address: Avenue Jean Volders 24, 1060 Saint‑Gilles
What is to cohabit ? In two films Myriam Van Imschoot portrays the skyscraper where she has been living from various angles and distances, whereas Maru Mustrhieva enters the architecture from the lived inside. This evening combines reading and screenings for the first time.
LIFT (2013) Shortfilm, 19'33", no language spoken.
The camera travels in one long sequence across the facade of a skyscraper, evoking a city through reflection and sound. This film can be also considered as an early example of Myriam's interest in the spatiality of sound.
Efemeriden (2012) Shortfilm, 10'33", no language spoken. A group of inhabitants appear on their balconies to wave. Shot from afar the action becomes a meditation and invitation to ponder ephemerality in the larger scheme of things.
Lover with a heart of stone (2024), 15 min, performative reading