FUNERAL ECSTASY
– The Paradise –
On the 16th & 17th of February we presented the performative installation FUNERAL ECSTASY – The Paradise for the first time in De Koepels in Rotterdam. The Paradise urges us to reflect on the impact of the cyclical nature of life. Can we accept the fact that everything lasts only for a limited period of time? Around an audiovisual installation, a larger than life orb, the audience gets immersed into a mixture of sound, light art and choreography. Is it a celebration, a guided meditation, or a rave for the end?
The Paradise marks the beginning of FUNERAL ECSTASY, a series questioning the conventional notions of endings. It encourages heightened awareness of the present moment, emphasizing the value in each passing second. In a performative installation the audience is led through an ebb and flow, oscillating between darkness and light, intensity and tranquility; a collective experience, perceived individually.
The Paradise evolved through research presentations and co-creation with the audience.
Ready to experience FUNERAL ECSTASY – The Paradise –? Please check our agenda for upcoming dates.
Credits
Concept & Artistic Lead Nadîja Roza Broekhart, Sylvia Weening // Performance & Guides Nadîja Roza Broekhart, Stefan Julizar, Bas van der Kruk, Sylvia Weening // Choreography Leo Spreksel // Scenography & Light Design Jeroen Molenaar, Zalán Szakács // Composition & Sound Design Stefan ZMK // Costume Design Nada van Dalen // Photography & teaser Rachel Schraven x HipSick // Poster Design Niels Vrijdag // Communication Aniek de Rooij // Business Lead Daniek Cappetijn // Production HipSick // Special thanks to Linda Ammerlaan, Demi van Kesteren, Theun Mosk, Lisette van Oostveen & all co-creators
The Paradise is made possible by:
Gemeente Rotterdam | Fonds 21 | Stichting Bevordering van Volkskracht | Het Cultuurfonds | Stichting Zabawas | Amsterdams Fonds voor de Kunst | Stichting Elise Mathilde Fonds | Van der Mandele Stichting
Partners:
WORM | Time Window | De Koepels
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC OF THE PARADISE
This is the first release of music composed for our performances, offering a glimpse into the soundscapes that underscore our work. “The Paradise” is the first installment in this series, with the soundtrack created by Stefan ZMK as part of the HipSick crew. Originally brought to life in February 2024, at De Koepels in Rotterdam, this digital release compiles 9 tracks from the immersive performative installation “Funeral Ecstasy – The Paradise”. This release is a response to the many requests we’ve received to reconnect with the music of our shows, but edited to enhance the listening experience at home. This soundtrack translates the collective yet individual experience of “Funeral Ecstasy – The Paradise”. Together, Stefan ZMK and HipSick Crew transform these introspective themes into a rich auditory landscape that honours each fleeting second.
Rooted in Rotterdam’s alternative rave scene, HipSick has long embraced music and sound design as core components of its performances. Our in-house music producer, Stefan ZMK (a skilled composer and audio engineer) is known as a DJ in the hardcore techno scene, both in the Netherlands and internationally. Stefan’s expertise shapes the intense auditory worlds of our productions, capturing the spirit of the underground.
