"(On) How to Rest" is an immersive performative video installation that delves into the intricate relationship between language and emotion, exploring the ways in which we communicate the intangible experiences of exhaustion, self-doubt, and the struggle to find stillness. This piece invites participants into a contemplative space where the boundaries of verbal expression are tested and expanded.

The installation features video projections set up opposite each other within the space. Each projection depicts a slow, deliberate process of stitching words—an act that both constructs and deconstructs language. As the words are meticulously formed, they gradually disintegrate and transform, symbolizing the ephemeral nature of spoken emotions. These projections engage in a silent, gradual dialogue, their interaction resembling a gentle conversation where the exchange is more felt than heard.

Accompanying this visual interplay is a 40-minute ambient soundtrack, woven together from the voices of four individuals. These voices speak candidly about their experiences with exhaustion, self-doubt, and the challenge of remaining still in a world that demands constant movement.

The installation is designed to be experienced over the full 40 minutes, encouraging visitors to explore the space dynamically. They are invited to move freely—whether by lying down, walking around, sitting and watching, or even closing their eyes to fully absorb the experience.

(on) how to rest" was conceived for based on gathering, an event centered on the theme of care as an artistic practice, particularly within spaces dedicated to collective, process-oriented research. It stands as an exploration of how art can become a medium for collective reflection and healing, offering a space for both personal and communal contemplation.

This work challenges the audience to reconsider the act of resting—not as a passive state, but as a profound, active engagement with self-care and collective wellbeing.

artistic direction&video: Emilia Schlosser

soundtrack: Ella Kennedy, Kate Ireland, Bridget Russon, Emilia Schlosser

sound design: Isaac Robertson

Thanks to: Lisa Jüngst, Anna Breit, Pia Heer