I’ve worked myself up into a state of excited anticipation
sending out a group email recently with details of
Matthias Sperling’s
Walking
Piece, which I’m performing at Siobhan Davies Studios as part of the Footfall event tomorrow. Walking Piece is an installation performance where a diverse group
of performers come together to create a single-file loop that continuously
circumnavigates the building, passing through a score of playful performative
tasks along the way.
I got involved in the project for various reasons. I was intrigued by its title. Walking
is such an ordinary thing, most of us do it, usually without thinking about
it. But when you do start thinking about it, it does become rather
extraordinary. Walking is not just about moving, it is also about thinking,
making a connection with place and site, and also communicating in a social
context.
The other reason for getting involved is I recently created
a site specific installation at the studios. A group of three dancers walked up and down the staircase
using the metal framework as a device to weave on (click
here of details and see previous posts on this blog). I also used the outdoor staircase during the project, so the
parallels with Matthias’ piece intrigued me. I am interested in the performance
of craft, site responsive approaches to making and developing work and
participation, so was curious to get an insight into his way of working.
It’s my first time doing anything of this kind. I did take off all my clothes for one
of Spencer Tunick’s human installation a few years back, accompanied by 1000
other people, but it hardly compares.
It’s also been a while since I’ve taken a dance class. After 10+
rehearsals, Walking Piece does feel very familiar. However, each time we’ve run through it at rehearsal, it
feels like it is being reinvented.
This comes from having to perform tasks rather than remember sequences
of actions and movements as we walk through the building. The meaning is in the
moment, acting in the present rather than re enacting the past. It is a live
exchange between the building, the performers and the audience, and I very much look forward to
the ‘reinvention’ of the work happening tomorrow. Performing Walking
Piece throughout the day will be like
performing it for the first time again, and again, and again…
This is a radical approach for a maker, and I love it! It resonates with my own practice where
I consider the process as much as product, and prompt social interaction
through making rather than simply looking at art. In Walking Piece, the social dimension of the work is
essential. The tasks become
meaningless without interaction from others and become almost impossible to
perform.
It’s been fascinating to see Matthias at work, and see how
he has shaped the piece over the few weeks of rehearsals, responding to how we
performed the tasks and then tweaking his instructions to us on what our
intentions might be when performing these. Much food for thought…
I’ve truly taken my head as well as my feet for a walk, and gained trim legs in the process!
