INTERCOURSE: 2013

Wednesday 24 April 2013

Ania Bas, new walking reading group developed out of the Intercouse project

We're really pleased to announce that artist Ania Bas, who was one of the commissioned artists for the Intercourse project, has developed the work she did with us into a new Walking Reading group, which will take place in May 2013 in London. Please see details below and go to Ania's personal blog if you'd like to sign up.

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The Walking Reading Group on Participation will be walking the streets of South and North London. The group is facilitated by Simone Mair and Ania Bas.

The group is a spring version of The Reading Group on Participation that was commissioned by Elbow Room and hosted by g39 in Cardiff.

We will be walking on:

Tue 21st May and Wed 22nd May (6:00 - 9:00 pm on both days)

meeting point: Gasworks, 155 Vauxhall Street, London SE11 5RH

and

Tue 28th May and Wed 29th May (6:00 - 9:00 pm on both days)

meeting point: The Showroom, 63 Penfold Street, London NW8 8PQ

Please e-mail me if you want to join as spaces are limited.

The group offers a chance to discuss the issues surrounding participation, engagement, collaboration, and social practice through a dynamic walking reading group. For each session some texts will be set in advance and will form the backbone of the exchange. We will depart from a venue and walk for up to an hour, swapping conversations and partners several times. A part from the discussed texts and personal experiences, art projects related to the area will form our dialogues.

The selection of texts and the applied dynamic methodology is an attempt to view beyond the binary logic of Socially Engaged Art practices, which often oppose participation to exclusion, nature to culture, thus subject to object.

Ania Bas - Publication developed through co-writing

Following her Co-Writing experiments for the Intercourse project Ania Bas' first publication developed using the principles of co-writing and titled after the event where it was developed I'm Not Sitting at the Front is now live and can be read and downloaded here:

http://issuu.com/aniabas/docs/i_am_not_sitting_at_the_front

I'm Not Sitting at the Front photos

Some images from the I'm Not Sitting at the Front event on 6th April. More thoughtful commentary and summing up will be posted shortly!

Artist Assertiveness Course - Tiff Oben

In an attempt to push and question the boundaries and ethics of lying to and manipulating participants through art practice, Tiff Oben, with delegated artist Helene Roberts, set up the Artist Assertiveness Course at Chapter Arts Centre. Aimed at fellow artists to help them become more assertive and get better gallery deals and shows, the project completely took advantage of Oben's peers' aspirations and emotions, in the hope that it would lead to a productive and valuable discussion afterwards (which it did).

Review of Artist Assertiveness Course by Claire Prosser

I pressed 'record' on the dicta phone.

The first person to come through the door was a middle aged women, with hair striped with different tones of grey tied back to the nape of her neck. Devon Jay greeted her with a handshake and a blunt hello. Her first comment was something about this course being 'legit' but I acknowledged her with reassuring eyes and a smile. She went on to have a discussion with Mr Jay, about what she wants to bring to Swansea through the art world. How she loves working with glass. How this course would hopefully help her to be more confident in realising her hopes for Swansea. All the time, although she was speaking to Devon, her eyes were casting towards me. Perhaps a female face is more approachable than the face of a male Assertiveness Leader wearing a biscuit coloured suit. But anyway, I just smiled and nodded, smiled and nodded, turning my eyes to Devon as if directing her voice towards him, and not me. I was only an assistant for the course, not the teacher. She passed comments of how sophisticated the layout of the room was. The room had four tables joined together to make a large rectangular table, big enough room for 10 people to sit around. At the front ( or back) of the table was a big slab of clay in it's blue packaging and at each sitting place there were cloth table mats. It reminded me of primary school days when we new we were going to be painting or playing with clay dough, table covers and wet wipes at the ready.

The lady quietened as the next batch of people came through the door, again met with a blunt greeting from Devon Jay. They soon took their seats around the table. I handed them all photography consent forms. They awkwardly shared the two pens we had available amongst them and returned the forms to me, all giving their consent for Devon Jay to use their images for a range of marketing purposes.

They sat. We (Devon and I) stood. Pacing back and for. I was eavesdropping, Devon probably focussed on the task ahead. He announced the start, any late comers were to sure to be in trouble if/when they arrived.

Task 1: MEANING OF ASSERTIVENESS

First task to the table. How do you describe being assertive? Answers coming up with a range of answers, all accurate in their own ways. Devon Jay summarising it at the end to be a way of simply getting what you want.

Task 2: NAME AND WHAT THEY WANT

A typical team building situation passing around the table. Awkward situation. How are you supposed to summarise in one sentence what you want?

Task 3: THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOURSELF

Deep in thought, the members came up with considered, deep, touching answers. They offered themselves to the group, slowly breaking down their persona and confiding in the group and Devon Jay. I felt bad for listening to such personal output. Then took another photograph.

Task 4: USE CLAY TO REPRESENT YOURSELF/YOUR ART

The members were invited up to take some clay. It wasn't cut out, not prescribed, they had to take for themselves, waiting in line for each other. They had seven minutes. Not five, not ten, but seven minutes, to manipulate the clay into something that summarised what their art is about. And therefore, how it would describe them. Three minutes left- they analysed what was left to do. Does this describe my art? Two minutes left- one actually got up to get more clay to perfect his piece. One minute left- they all delicately put the final touches to their piece. They stopped and continued to look at the work they had just made.

Task 5: WHAT IS YOUR CLAY SCULPTURE

Going around the table Devon Jay antagonised each person about what they had constructed. What have you made, Why? Does that describe you?

Task 6: TAKING (AND GIVING) CRITCISM

Devon Jay requested two volunteers and echoed a remark made many a time in school “if I have no volunteers I will pick on two of you.” Two people rose their hands, oh go on then.

They quickly decided who was going to give and who was going to receive the criticism. The first comment was given with hesitation, oh its sooo hard, and was finally delivered. It was more of a criticism that double backed on itself to become a compliment. “You should be more confident in what you wear.” It didn't even skim the surface of a criticism. Devon Jay jumped in and stirred it up. The second comment was much more entertaining;

“Don't wear those big cross earrings, you are not religious.”

Task 7: REASONING BEHIND CRITICISM-

“I don't like that cage”

Mr Jay continued with the point of needing a valid reason to support any criticism made. He played on it first of all by throwing off criticism to one of the members. Pointing at the clay cage and the person who made it saying “ I don't like that. I don't like that cage. The theme of entrapment in society is over done and clichéd” passing criticism yet never really giving a just reason. The member just sat there looking at Devon Jay. The guy, was a big bloke, and his eyes widened as soon as he started hearing these comments coming out of Jay's mouth. Soon enough Devon switched it into constructive reasoning and heart rates returned to normal.

Task 8: APPLYING ASSERTION-SCENARIO-

RETURNING JEANS TO TESCO

Another two volunteers, the bloke and one of the ladies. Several times they were asked to perform and re-perform in different ways a difficult scenario of returning something to a retail store. Not entirely sure who is right or wrong, the lady wanting to return or the Customer Service man. Gender being one of the concepts brought up, big guy onto slim young lady, who instantly appears more assertive, more authoritative? It shouldn't matter but it did, and does. Jay was persistent, making them feel more and more angry which contradicted something that he commented on at the start- assertiveness is not aggression. Heart rates were at a height once again.

Task 9: TAI CHI

Probably the worst (and best) part of the session. Observing the group follow Devon Jay in leading Tai Chi movements in his suit and brogues. Behind the camera I was sinking. I had to pretend to scratch my eyes for the humiliation was swelling inside of me for them. I just about managed to take motion shots of them. Got some great ones, with their legs mid-air and everything.

It topped it off for me when the middle aged lady asked if those movements could be manipulated to suit her physical abilities. Hoping that she could perform other movements in her own time and still get the same effect. Oh God. Devon Jay replied with clear intent, Yes. Of course. I creased.

Task 10: BACK AROUND THE TABLE,

MY NAME IS _______and I WANT______.

They returned to the first task of the day, saying their name and what they wanted. Each and every person sounding much more assertive, more adamant that that is what they want and what they believe in.

DEVONJAYASS.CO.UK

As we came to the plenary of the session, the leader went on to say. “If you want any more information then please visit my website. At this point, the group all delved into their bags or took out their smart phones only to copy down 'www.devonjayass.co.uk' from the flip board. (To myself: Don't laugh out loud. Don't giggle. Don't even wince a hint of a smile. )

“I'VE BEEN DEVON JAY AND YOU HAVE BEEN ASSERTIVE!!!”

Wow. Ultimate climax of the day. Topping the session off with hitting that line out into the painful air. He then threw on his coat, grabbed his bag and strode towards me asking “Cheque or cash?!” I played along; “cheque.” Even though hardly anybody uses cheques now?!

FEEDBACK FORMS

Just before the group left I kindly asked for them all to fill out a feedback form. Some of them having a chance to fill out most of the sheet before Tiff Oben stepped into the room.

We stood chatting first of all, well, I remained quiet. Tiff soon announced that “Devon Jay was actually a very good actor. None of this was real. You were all completely tricked.”

The lady who wrote down “I definitely feel more assertive” threw herself into laughter. It could have been worse. Lucky for Tiff, these people took it quite light heartedly. I do believe though, that on some level, they will take some of the comments away. Some of (a lot of) what Devon Jay (Chris) said was valid. Scarily- I, the assistant who was in on the con, the one behind the camera knowing everything, even sunk into his words at one point.

Claire Prosser

Be careful what you believe in.

The Human Elavator, Jason and Becky (with Tiff Oben)

As one of Tiff Oben's delegated artists, Jason and Becky performed Human Elevator on the street of Cardiff, giving unsuspecting shoppers a strange but friendly experience

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIJHZ--GBe4

Thursday 4 April 2013

I'm Not Sitting at the Front update

With only two days to go until our event, we are pleased to announce an additional speaker to the line up, Emma Gee. Emma is currently researching a PhD at Leeds University in participatory and immersive practice. All the information about the event is now on it's own page on this blog.

Monday 1 April 2013

An evening of artist talks, 5th April, 6-8pm

You are invited to come and join us for a pint of the Rummer’s finest whilst listening to some of the artists who have been part of the Intercourse poject talk about their practice, in the lead up to the project seminar event the following day.

The artist talks are aimed at students and recently graduated artists, and will focus on their early careers, how to create opportunities and bridge the gap between art college and becoming an artist.

Friday 5^th April, 6-8pm

Upstairs at the Rummer Tavern
14 Duke Street, Cardiff. CF10 1AY.

Presentations from Tiff Oben, Ania Bas and B.R.G. Collective.

RSVP to info@elbowroom.org.uk
Everyone welcome!

Wednesday 27 March 2013

BRG / ONE DAY COLLECTIVE

Sunday 22nd March was a chilly day in Cardiff. It was also the day the BRG collective turned up at a coffee shop on Cathedral Road in the hope that some willing members of the public might brave the bitter cold to take part in ONE DAY COLLECTIVE (ODC). Luckily they did!

A brief introduction was made and goody bags were handed out. Each bag contained various items that might come in useful throughout the day. An apple, a limited edition ODC hig-vis vest, water, electrical tape, bulldog clips and a length of plastic tube to name a few. It should be noted that at no point were the participants told what would be happening throughout the day.

The first port of call was Bute Park, where team building exercises were carried out and the newly formed ODC faced their first test as a collaborative unit. They did particularly well in the group juggling task.

BRG then led the new collective to Queen Street where they were invited to explore their group identity through public participation. They proceeded to fill a 27 exposure disposable camera with group shots of themselves, all taken by members of the public. It became apparent to ODC very early on that their sky blue vests might be a hindrance. BRG lost them all together for about 30 minutes, and were relieved to see them appear in the distance with a full camera and smiles on their faces.

After a brief stop at the Hayes for a cuppa and some lunch, it was time to head to Callaghan square. Here ODC were surprised with 99 tennis balls, some buckets, rope and a large pink yoga ball. After a brief introduction to the notion of play, they were let loose for around 45 minutes. At this point, unfortunately, a member of ODC had to take their leave due to the cold.

A brisk walk to Atlantic Wharf got both groups warmed up enough for the next task. A form of Chinese whispers that involved shouting out ideas for a collective motto.

A quick coffee break to warm our cockles at the Wharf was shortly followed by a dash to Roald Dahl Plass in Cardiff bay for a game dubbed 'be a word' where ODC took on BRG in a final showdown.

With everyone declared a winner they hopped on the Princess Catherine which took them on the 25 minute trip up the Taff back to where it all began that morning. ‘Y Mochyn Du’ was the final resting place of the ONE DAY COLLECTIVE where the day was rounded off with a pint and an in-depth evaluation of the day’s events. Some of the topics covered included the difference between public audiences in different areas of the city, the public art that was seen throughout the day, the importance of play in everyday life, and how the group functioned as a collective as the day progressed.

The ONE DAY COLLECTIVE were:
Rosie Benn-Squire
Georgia Hall
Sara Hexter
Leo Garcia
Jess Matthews
Elen Roberts

BRG would like to thank all involved, including Jacob Whittaker who documented the event. A film will be put together and presented at the forthcoming seminar 'I'm not sitting at the front' on 6th April.

Tuesday 26 March 2013

Staged Performance: Audience Participation or Observation?

Emily Granozio examines performance, participation and audience in this theoretical text.

http://www.academia.edu/1485712/Staged_Performance_Audience_Participation_or_Observation

And here is a link to Ontroerend Goed, a Belgian theatre performance group based in Gent who's work puts some of Granozio's theories into context.

http://www.ontroerendgoed.be/projects.php

Monday 25 March 2013

Good Intentions Frieze article, by Negar Azimi

Very interesting and relevant reading when considering the value and effect of participatory and political art...

http://www.frieze.com/issue/article/good-intentions/

Friday 22 March 2013

I'm Not Sitting at the Front, Saturday 6th April

Please join us on Saturday 6th April for an event that discuss some of the topics and issues raised through the Intercourse project. More detailed information about the event will be posted shortly.

Tuesday 19 March 2013

More from Freya Dooley

Monday 18 March 2013

Improv Everywhere - New York City based prank collective

Since 2001 Improv Everywhere have been causing public scenes of chaos and joy. Check out their website here http://improveverywhere.com/missions/

Claire Prosser, artist and volunteer for the Intercourse project, has written the following in response to their work.

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Wish you were here?

Improveverywhere are a 'prank' collective that make scenes that they label as 'Missions.' These scenes are flash mob-esque but are not far from Art Happenings and participation events. The sheer size of some of their creations is incredible. You can tell by the website the extent of people they reach, with sign up sheets for participants (Undercover Agents), tour dates and live shows. They also offer merchandise and offer business events which provides a large fraction of their funding. Part of me begins to question and think negatively about the hype they give themselves, the other part of me gets goosebumps watching and thinking about creating something like they have.

Can the integrity of their projects be maintained when so many people start to join the band wagon even if they weren't the original participants? Does the involvement of more people mean more power? Does more people mean less power?

How much control do they have over the participants? Is there any? Where do artists/creators step back and let the people nurture the event? Is that their aim from the very beginning? To set the idea then let it free?

Looking at No Pants Subway Ride, are these events any different to Children in Need day/ Comic Relief days when members of the public do something extraordinary for charitable causes? In Improveverywhere's case it becomes part of daily routine, without the fund raising. It interests me how humans have a safety mechanism, if they see that more people are taking part, they feel it is then okay for them to participate. The humiliation factor and individual confidence levels are certainly challenged in the Missions set up by this collective and in any participatory art event. Is it okay for me to take part? Will I look stupid? How do I behave? Where do I stand? What are they doing? What am I doing?

I am in awe of how widespread and accepted the creators of Improveverywhere have become, how fun, carefree scenes are becoming more and more accepted and encouraged. The effect the missions have on 'non-participants' is also astounding. They too begin to perform in response to the energies created from the scene. How far does the energy go? Where does the art form end? Where does participation begin and end?

“All the world's a stage

And all the men and women merely players

They have their exits and their entrances”

William Shakespeare

In Improveverywhere, Who is performing? Who is not performing? Are people performing even if they weren't on the agent list?

At some point, everyone in the vicinity of the scene will all have performed. They will all have been a participant. Will everyone be the artist?

Ania Bas project documentation

Rosie Benn-Squire produced these beautiful illustrations to document Ania Bas' Co-writing group and reading group last week. You can contact her at rosiebennsquire@ymail.com

Wednesday 13 March 2013

How can you document an experience?

Through speaking to artists who make participatory work, one of the main challenges/concerns/problems that comes up everytime is how best, and if, to document. How can you document an experience? From who's perspective would you document? Will it impact on the work? Will it create a false representation? Who is the documentation for?

As part of the Intercourse project, artist Freya Dooley has been commissioned to explore this idea through her practice. She is currently making a body of work that investigates how documentation commemorates, impacts, changes or creates experience, with particular interest in first and second hand information.

Various 'snippets' of her thinking and investigations will be posted here as and when they emerge, and there will be a chance to see some of the works at the Intercourse seminar at the culmination of this phase of the project.

For now Freya leaves us with a quote that relates to a series of paintings she is working on:

“To suffer is one thing; another thing is living with the photographed images of suffering, which does not necessarily strengthen conscience and the ability to be compassionate. It can also corrupt them. Once one has seen such images; one has started down the road of seeing more- and more. Images transfix. Images anesthetize. An event known through photographs certainly becomes more real than it would have been if one had never seen the photographs- think of the Vietnam War. (For a counter example, think of the Gulag Archipelago, of which we have no photographs.) But after repeated exposure to images it also becomes less real.”

Susan Sontag (from On Photography)

Decontrolism Exhibition, at Arcade Cardiff

Details surrounding the Decontrolism movement are vague at best; all that is known is that they are operating out of an oppressed region of the world, where the creation and distribution of unsanctioned art is strictly prohibited, and those who do not comply face substantial penalties.

The movement issue a set of instructions to the curators of exhibitions, through an intermediary who is in better contact with the outside world, as to what is to be displayed. All parties, of course, remain anonymous in order to protect themselves from any punitive measures they may face as a result of their actions.

The pieces displayed within the exhibition will revolve around the suggestion that control is taken away from these artists; as such, the creation of the work is taken entirely out of their hands. The exhibit will centre around a game of chess, which visitors will be able to participate in; but only for a single move. Control is held by the player only momentarily, and is removed as soon as the move is made. The progression and outcome of this game is all that is relayed back to the Decontrolists, to show that their wishes have been carried out and that the outside world is aware of their existence.

26 - 29 March 2013
Unit 17 Queens Arcade St David's Shopping Centre Cardiff CF10 2BY
Daily:10.00-18.00; Opening & Closing Events:18.00-20.00

www.arcadecardiff.co.uk/

Last change to take part in Ania's Co-writing club

Email us on info@elbowroom.org.uk if you'd like to attend.

Friday 8 March 2013

A little hint to what Freya Dooley is working on...

Thursday 7 March 2013

Ania Bas Co-writing club this Saturday

If you would like to take part in Ania Bas' Co-writing club this saturday please email info@elbowroom.org.uk. This week's session will take place in the Chapter bar cwtch area starting at 11am. See the beautiful flyer below designed by Lucy Parker.

And here's a little something produced last time....

Wednesday 6 March 2013

ONEDAY Collective

Monday 4 March 2013

The ethics of involving others in your art practice

Here are some links to relevant artworks and artists that may inform discussions emerging from Ania Bas' reading group, and reactions to Tiff Oben's public experiments.

Navigating the ethics of involving others in your practice - Does it only come down to getting the permission and consent of the participant or can worthwhile and important work be made while potentially 'exploiting' others, or highlighting already existing exploitation by doing the same yourself to knowing but powerless participants?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/sep/23/sophie-calle

http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/video/performance-santiago-sierra

http://www.willempopelier.nl/essayjensen.html
http://depesha.com/arts-culture/arts/boris-mikhailov-case-history

Sunday 3 March 2013

Ania Bas Co-writing club

Ania Bas' Co-Writing Club will take place another two times in March - next Saturday 9th (in Chapter bar) and the following Saturday 16th (upstairs in St David's Hall), both at 11am.

Using a number of devised exercises during the sessions, Bas is seeking to explore and question notions of authorship and automony in creative projects that seek or need others to engage in the creative process. Is it possible to remove authorship altogether, and if so where does the artists role fit within this structure?

If you would like to take part please email info@elbowroom.org.uk

Wednesday 27 February 2013

Tiff Oben - Following Situation 2

Participant Victim 1

Participants Via Live Feed Email

26.2.13

09.45 – 11.05

Sent: Tuesday, 26 February 2013, 8:01