HOPE IS A HAMMER
January 4th, 2023 at Human Resources Los Angeles
Directed by Sharon Chohi Kim and Elana Mann
Sculptures by Elana Mann
Compositions by Sharon Chohi Kim, Corey Fogel and adrienne maree brown
Choreography by Stephanie Zalatel
Costumes by Jill Spector
Performers: Erin Barnes, Cory Beers, Mikaela Elson, Corey Fogel, Sara Sinclair Gomez, Christopher Hadley, Sharon Chohi Kim, Divya Maus, Carol Ockman, Molly Pease, Kathryn Shuman
Hope is a Hammer is an interdisciplinary performance piece with sound, sculpture, text and movement. This piece was in collaboration with artist Elana Mann’s sonic sculptures and was performed at Human Resources Los Angeles. The piece confronts the silencing of women’s voices and the struggle body sovereignty in both the U.S. and abroad.
Photos by Ruth Kim
Six singers—channeling the behavior of bees—attempt to play a horn together, reflecting on collective intelligence and decentralized systems. The piece explores strategies for empowerment through collaboration and adaptive resilience. Vocal textures are layered through minimalist structures—part game, part meditation—where voice becomes a site of play and collective attunement.
Composed by Sharon Chohi Kim