ab in Anatum’s FINAL post

FINAL

In my two week residency I achieved what I wanted to achieve – I did intensive ten days (or nine better to say, because one day I took a break) research in an Anatum’s Abode and the city of London. My interest in the research was to feel, to understand, to explore specific site (so we might call it „site-specific research“) – the London megalopolis. Important part of that work was also one day (18 hours) durational performance/observation in the London’s Tube/Overground/DLR system.

I prepared a workshop which unfortunately didn’t happen because of the lack of participants but was replaced by its variation done in two people next day.

I participated on two collective events in Anatum’s and in that occasions I executed two performance pieces. Performances were adapted for the specifities of the evenings itself – first one spoke about the history and present of the Anatum’s Abode, second concentrated on the extension of human communication possibilities.

And finally I presented a lecture „Sexuality in dystopian movies.“ The way it happened, the number of pleased listeners, consequential discussion and created atmosphere was maybe the biggest surprise and biggest satisfaction in terms of my residency.

Below you find some photos with which I am saying goodbye. I would like to warmly thank for the possibility given to me and highly recommend the residency for any other possible applicants.

Thank you.

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ab in Anatum’s day 13 & 14

DAY 13 & 14

These two days were devoted to preparations of „a night of immersive interaction between each other, sharing time and space.“ There were food sculptures designated specially for each person, meal together, concentration, wishes offered to the fire sculpture, ritual dance and singing and so on. It happened to be a nice meeting of people.

I participated with a simple „performance“ – I decided not to speak during the evening and rather try to communicate with others through body language or if necessary by writing. As a sign of my speaking incapability I put a purple lipstick on my lips by which I emphasized that incapable area.

Experiment worked quite nicely, created different atmosphere between me and other people. For me it was nice occasion to shut up for a while and to listen more (which is something we all need quite often). Pantomime, touching and writing happened to be my main communicative tools. Maybe might be even more interesting next time not to use the writing as well. On the other hand the writing brought various funny situation – like when I excluded me and my writing partner from the general social situation and established kind of conspiracy between us or when I won one pantomime round by writing guessed word faster than others were saying it.

Beautiful was to use vocal chords not for word producing, but for singing or creating of sounds / shrieking. So the moments of collective singing meant great relief and liberation for me – now I was able to communicate with others in a same way as they did and the connection between us was deeper than usual.

I started to speak again at midnight, after five hours. At the very first moment it was nice to speak again, but I missed my silence as well. Silence might be a miracle.

Below you find my written communication attempts and some „afterpictures.“ Not just random parties but even the „spiritual“ ones ends similarly…

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