Kinetic Testimony

Dance exists as life's original database—a fundamental system of information transmission that emerged long before human civilization, visible in the elaborate courtship rituals of birds and countless other species. In human societies throughout history, movement has functioned as one of our most persistent methods of cultural transmission, manifesting uniquely across different communities and contexts. From indigenous ceremonial dances that pass down cultural knowledge through generations, to folk performances preserving local histories, bodily movement has served as a vital medium of cultural memory. In my ongoing investigation of preservation technology and its politics, “Kinetic Testimony” connects this ancient biological mechanism of data transmission to blockchain technology. By translating dance movements into blockchain transactions, this work explores new possibilities for the digital preservation of embodied knowledge.