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Body Sensations: An A-Z (Leeds Art Gallery)

Body Sensations: An A-Z (Leeds Art Gallery)

This performance was created by second year undergraduate students of the Theatre and Performance BA, at the University of Leeds, and as part of the module Collaborative Performance Project. It involved the students in a partnership with Leeds Art Gallery and invited them to explore how methods of performance making could be used as a response to the artworks on display. The performance, supervised by Maria Kapsali, developed over a series of explorations during a three-month period and consolidated into 26 smaller pieces, which were alphabetically structured. A variety of media were utilised, including, live performance, installation, sound, and video. The performance also had an online element, which hosted the recorded material and also enabled the visitor’s journey in the gallery. Below you can find the entire online content created by the students.

ABOUT THE PIECE

Welcome to Body Sensations. Inspired by Stephen Wright's 'Lexicon of Usology', we have created an A to Z of interactions and responses to the gallery, the art within it, and even the building itself. We have created this online platform housing instructions on how and where to access each performance, including some exclusive audio and visual content which you can view on your mobile phone. As a resident of Leeds, the gallery, as a civic building, belongs in part to you as a user, and we’d like you to take this journey and reconsider how you interact with a gallery. Feel free to explore the performances in any order, be this in alphabetical order or however you feel, for as long as you like - visit some letters twice if it really takes your fancy! Online you will find a schedule, as some of the performances only take place at certain times, so do take a look at that to help guide your journey. If you have any questions or need any technical support, two of our performers will be stationed at ARRIVAL (the table we have set up) throughout the entire afternoon to give any help. We hope you enjoy this experience, in which you are as much an artist as any of us, or any of the artists lining these walls.

SCHEDULE

Every letter denotes an experience, and this schedule specifies what time they are on.

13:00-15:00 13:45-14:00
ARRIVAL KINAESTHETIC
BEGINNINGS OPPOSITION
CHAIM
INK 14:00-15:00
JOURNEY REARRANGE
LOWRY
MINDFULNESS 14:05-14:25
NOISE FRAME
SKIN VISION
YOU
14:30-14:40
13:00-14:45 PEDESTRIAN
HOME
TEAR 14:45-15:00
USERSHIP WORDS
XEROX
13:10-13:40 ZINE
DOORWAY
EMBRACE
GIRL
QUOTIDIAN
13:30-13:45
FRAME

 

MAP

This map has been designed in order to facilitate your journey through the gallery today. The letters refer to each individual performance and where they take place. If at any point you are lost or have any questions please return to the ARRIVAL desk.

A

ARRIVAL

Where?

Just after the entrance of the Art Gallery.

What?

We welcome you to Leeds Art Gallery to view a performance by the students of the University of Leeds.

This performance has been created in response to the artworks in the gallery.

When?

13:00-15:00

B

BEGINNINGS

Where?

Just after the entrance of the gallery.

What?

This video welcomes you to the gallery and our performance.

Watch it to make yourself familiar with our online platform and how to experience the gallery in a new way.

When?

13:00- 15:00

C

CHAIM
THE DAY OF ATONEMENT. JACOB KRAMER.

Where?

Once in South Gallery, walk into the adjacent room to the left (East Gallery).

Travel to the opposite end of the room and stop just before the large sculpture of a man's head.

You will find the painting on the left handside.

What?

Listen intently whilst observing the painting, bring it to life.

Follow in the footsteps of this procession, enter together and feel the atmosphere build around you.

'Chaim' is Hebrew for life.

When?

13:00- 15:00

D

DOORWAY

Where?

South Gallery.

What?

Doorway explores the unused elements of the gallery testing how audiences interact with performance in a practical space.

Will you watch or will you walk straight through?

When?

13.10 - 13.40

E

EMBRACE
UNTITLED. SHELAGH CLUETT.

Where?

At the end of the room in South Gallery.

What?

Responding to the work 'untitled', Embrace focusses on animating a moment of connection that goes unnoticed.

Drawing attention to the intricacies of the mundane.

When?

13:10-13:40

F

FRAME
BLUE HISTORY. ZEBEDEE JONES.

Where?

In East Gallery on the left handside of the room, next to BAD HAT.

What?

You’re looking, but are you really seeing? Using Blue History, allow yourself to look

deeper into the paintings that may not immediately catch your eye.

Find the something in the nothing, find the history within the blue.

When?

13:30- 13:45
14:05- 14:25

G

GIRL
REBEKAH. SIMON BRISLEY.

Where?

At the top of the main staircase, turn left and you will see the sculpture REBEKAH (seen in the picture).

What?

This live performance takes place by REBEKAH and explores the idea of the sculpture coming to life.

Powerless for so long, there is a sudden awakening and liberation of movement.

To the left of the sculpture there is a small screen with headphones, explaining the story behind REBEKAH.

When?

13:10-13:40

H

HOME

Where?

The art space on the ground floor.

What?

Home is where your art is. Come and explore an interactive sensory experience.

When?

13:00- 14:45

I

INK
TWENTY SIX HOURS IN VIENNA. STUART BRISLEY.

Where?

The Bernard and Lucy Lyons galleries, in the second room of the Sculptures Collection: Models, Drawings and Sculptures.

The large series of black and white images are situated on the right hand side, in front of a bench.

Watch this video whilst looking at the images.

What?

A video inspired by and exploring the creation of art, using the body as both canvas and brush.

When?

13:00- 15:00

J

JOURNEY
ARENA. ALISON WILDING.

Where?

The ARENA in central court.

What?

Journey is three audio experiences designed to be listened to whilst walking around the ARENA.

When?

13:00- 15:00


K

KINAESTHETICS

Where?

The Henry Moore Lecture Theatre

What?

Inspired by the sculptures of the gallery, join us as we explore the relationship between art and the visitor.

When?

13:45-14:00

L

LOWRY
A LANCASHIRE COTTON WORKER. L.S LOWRY.

Where?

In North Gallery, near the entrance to East Gallery.

What?

Take a look at Lowry’s iconic painting 'A Lancashire Cotton Worker'. Now have a listen.

When?

13:00-15:00

Lowry from Joe Kent on Vimeo.

M

MINDFULNESS

Where?

Make your way to the solitary bench in North Gallery.

What?

Let your eyes wash over the wood, finding irregularities and patterns, even the tiniest things that stick out to you. When you find one you particularly like, snap a photo of it.

You have just created art. If you like, upload the photo to our facebook event for others to see - if not, keep your discovery for yourself.

Take a moment, Breathe. When you’re ready, move on with your experience.

When?

13:00- 15:00

N

NOISE
THE MAKING OF A MOTOR - DIEGO RIVIERA

Where?

From the main enterance to the gallery, walk forwards and take the stairs to your right. in the large room behind you, you will see the sculpture 'Arena' in Central Court. Take a left into North Gallery. The artwork is found on the the right wall as you enter.

What?

Let the soundscape be your guide through the factory as you explore the many intricacies of the artwork.

Relentless noise. A desire for freedom.

When?

13:00 - 15:00

O

OPPOSITION

Where?

In South Gallery, in the two alcoves in the back wall of the room and the corridor that joins them.

Feel free to stand in the alcoves, corridor, or the main gallery space.

What?

A muscial interlude.

When?

13:45-14:00

P

PEDESTRIAN
ARENA. ALISON WILDING.

Where?

Central Court.

What?

Looking at you, looking at the art, looking at us.

When?

14:30 - 14:40

Q

QUOTIDIAN
SEVERAL WORKS BY A NUMBER OF ARTISTS.

Where?

At the top of the main staircase, turn right to see the wall of different paintings (seen in the picture).

What?

The piece is a reaction to this large wall of art. It showcases how the every day became art, and now the art is brought into your everyday.

When?

13:10-13:40

R

REARRANGE

Where?

Henry Moore Lecture Theatre.

What?

REARRANGE asks you to make a sculpture using the found materials around the square.

A collaborative experience that frames the audience as part of an interactive, morphing sculpture.

When?

14:00- 15:00

S

SKIN
​THE VEILED VENUS. KUHNE BEVERIDGE AND ELLA VON WREDE.

Where?

At the top of the staircase.

​What?

Watch the video whilst looking at THE VEILED VENUS.

This video is an exploration of the human body and the sensation of touch.

When?

​13:00- 15:00

T

TEAR

Where?

The Artspace

What?

You're the artist now! A hands-on approach to interacting with art.

When?

13:00-15:00

U

USERSHIP

Where?

The Artspace

What?

In TEAR, you used the artworks of others to create something. You were not a spectator, the owner of the art or an expert. You simply used it.

When?

13:00-15:00

V

VISION
BAD HAT. EVA ROTHSCHILD.

Where?

Next to Bad Hat in South Gallery.

What?

Vision is a movement piece set around the sculpture BAD HAT that explores the unsuspected union of two people, and the realization of one another's bodies.

When?

14:05-14:25

W

WORDS

Where?

In the zine.

What?

Created by comments left in the Visitors' book.

When?

14:45-15:00

X

XEROX
RECLINING WOMAN. HENRY MOORE.

Where?

Outside the gallery.

What?

Drawing attention to the Henry Moore sculpture, we become copies...

When?

13:00-15:00

Y

YOU

Where?

Online.

What?

Now it's time for you to leave your mark. Leave us a comment on our Facebook event about your experience today.

When?

13:00-15:00

Z

ZINE

Where?

Outside, at the bottom of the stairs facing towards the entrance of the gallery.

What?

We have put together this zine as a programme for you, our audience.

When?

14:45-15:00