Radio Atatakai is a radio art project and station run by artists Tata Frenkel and dr. Jan Glöckner. Jan’s research interest is choreographic potential of fungi and humans, with a focus on biotechnology, deep tank fermentation, radio and dance. And Tata’s artistic practice encompasses radio, radio-acoustic instruments, diagrammatic drawings, and performative narratives in which the limits of articulation, themes of health and care, and the communication physics intertwine.

Radio Atatakai calls itself a tiny intergalactical station that runs two big sub-programs called “Autonomous education for radio spectrum” and “Fundamental principles of permanent fun”. But maybe that’s the least interesting thing about it. Jan lives with rapidly progressing ALS, while Tata is Jan’s main caretaker. Hence the radio exists in the routine of palliative care. Since the beginning of the Radio Atatakai, it has been transmitting through the high resistance of medical crisis, it was and still is bringing meaning, ground and freedom to create, communicate, share and just to stay yourself when the disease takes one’s ability to participate physically.

Radio Atatakai wants to emphasize voices, unseen bodies, radio sky that belongs to everybody. Palliative arts is something that cares for the end, doesn’t ignore it, doesn’t mystify it, it is about care in multitude of its forms. At the same time, for us, it mainly affects the framework, the flexible curation of the transmissions – station is completely adjusted so it’s good for one’s condition, so it’s fun without any damage to energy levels, a producer is also a caregiver, we totally live by unpredictability, by easying the symptoms.

In this show, we have a small restrospective trip that happens somewhere outside.

Music and editing by Tata Frenkel. Voices: Jan Glöckner and Tata.