Four bodies and hundreds of kilograms of tires come together in a physically demanding performance that explores the fragile relationships between people and their environment. The unpredictable pile of tires that dominates the scenography and dictates human behavior gradually transforms into a living, dynamic architecture. PNEU is a performative playground where rules unexpectedly disappear and reappear, chaos becomes structure, and imbalance becomes a driving force.
From the very beginning of his career, Viktor Černický has taken the field of performing arts by storm. He has impressed audiences with his refreshing ideas and earned numerous awards for his distinctive style. The Swedish network Dansnät Sverige calls him both a visionary and a rising hope of theatre art. In his latest project, PNEU, inspired by the theory of antifragility, he presents a scenic essay on effort, exhaustion, and the renewal of strength — on the desire not to lose lightness even when everything seems to collapse, and on the space where disorder becomes fertile ground for discovering new meaning.
The concept of antifragility, introduced by philosopher Nassim Nicholas Taleb, describes a state in which a system or an object needs disorder, chaos, and pressure in order to grow. While something fragile or vulnerable may break or deteriorate under stress, an antifragile entity improves and strengthens. The human immune system or muscles, for instance, are such systems. Not only do antifragile systems grow through exertion — they actually weaken when left in comfort.
“Why do we always feel the worst after a few days of doing nothing? How many people work out every day just to maintain their condition? Our bodies are antifragile factories that must expose themselves to discomfort simply in order to survive. We constantly push beyond our own limits, and in doing so, we grow. Tires are among our closest partners — and our greatest enemies. It depends on whether we sit behind the wheel, or use them as obstacles for movement, as toys to lift, jump over, or push away. Sharing discomfort and effort — that’s what connects us and allows us to transcend our own being. We are a community of restlessness.”
