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Performance and Fire

Maja Thommen’s beginnings as a performer sprang from her desire to create larger
works and collaborate with more people.

This first led her toward acrobatics and explorations in the concepts of bodies in balance.

Her fascination with fire also influenced these formative years of her performance work
and steered her toward experimentations with gunpowder and eventually her licence
to handle and employ explosives. As a member of performance collectives Bagger
and Elxt 90 she worked on cutting-edge pyrotechnic experiments utilizing gunpowder,
propane, and petrol.
It was this seminal period that eventually led to performances and collaborations with
Berlin fire artists: Eddie Egal, Logo Lard, Hannes Jung, Bastiaan Maris and
Kain Karawahn. She continues these collaborations and friendships to this day.

The year 2003 ushered M. Thommen toward an entirely new direction in her performance
career as she joined the Kreuzberger gypsy band, Casino Gitano with whom she played
for 9 years.

2014: A 17 meter long animated Sea Monster, diving and emerging in the festival lake,
with several fire and water effects. Off the Radar Festival, Te Arai /NZ
2011-2012: Tony Clifton Circus /I, technical development and show assistance for the Mission
Roosevelt
Spectacle
2008: Assistance on the fire show of Eddie Egal and Sir Henry Hot in Thrash City,
Glastonbury Festival /GB
Since 2007: Concept and artistic direction of the mechanical spectacle A Breath Under Water
2006: Juweliers Messe Basel, fire installation with Hannes Jung, Eddie Egal
and Udo Luckow, Basel /CH
2005: Assistance on the LHPO show, by Geo Homsy, Bastiaan Maris and Stock,
Big Day Out Festival, Sydney /AUS
2004: Fire installation for the European film premiere of Troy, Berlin /D
2003–2012: Playing recorder with the gipsy band Casino Gitano
2003: Assistance on Kain Karawahns Polkappenzündfonie, Bonn /D
2002–2004: The pyro-acoustic show project Free Radicals
1999–2003: The acrobatic fire spectacle Elxt90
1997–2001: Martial punk show Bagger