大象传媒

Acting as a lullaby, this 14-minute piece mixes together a narrative, spoken by Randolf Menzel, and music. Just before going to sleep, listeners will experience Randolf Menzel鈥檚 dream and question if bees dream as well.
Dr. Randolf Menzel is a German neurobiologist who dedicated his life to the world of bees. At the beginning of his career, he was dreaming of becoming a bee. At nights, and sometimes during the day, he was transforming into his subject of research. These experiences helped him to build a better understanding of what it is like to be a bee, and gave him leads to his scientific inquiries. In return, his discoveries in the lab were enhancing his dreams. Dream worlds are a central part of human life. Neuroscience has shown that they are an important activity for human brain and its evolution, and not mere epiphenomena. Within these dream lands, time is telescoped, it is distorted; offering a space to try specific hypotheses.
About Apian
Apian is a machine built for exploring the age-old interspecies relationship between humans and bees. It offers a refuge to encounter this alien species on a more egalitarian basis, mediated by technology and human thoughts. Working outside any institution, Apian is a non-profit bureau, a ministry of bees. It is heuristic, experimental, messy, serious, but above all tries to be honest. In 2020, Apian published his first book, Hives/Ruches (RVB/Vevey Images, 2020) - a visual atlas of the hive. 鈥淎pian also aims to be collaborative and has been a meeting place for shared sensibilities. It has been shown for example at Eyebeam 2021, La Becque 2020, and CTM Festival Berlin 2019, among others.

New Creatives is supported by Arts Council England and 大象传媒 Arts.

A piece by Apian (Laurent G眉del, Robert Torche, Ellen Lapper, Aladin Borioli)
A special thanks to Dr. Randolf Menzel.
Producer: Josh Farmer (NTS)