Living in a 1.5m society, the space between us becomes one potent with fear and tinged with separation. Do you recall how you felt in the early days of lockdown, when someone got too close to you in the supermarket, or while passing on a narrow pavement? As a society we are now increasingly obsessed with the space which separates us. However, instead of this being a space of fear, what if this could become a space of possibility? Can we use this space to learn how to interact in different ways; ways that explore previously unknown parts of ourselves? Can we learn to speak without words, but through our movements together in space? Through public workshops, collaborative score development and archival techniques I aim to create a new form of language which uncovers the depths of the emotions that connect us. This form of language will be without words but based on symbols.

​

The first phase of the project took place in May 2021 with open movement workshops, guided by expressive arts therapist Suzan Lemont. The workshops were recorded from above, and for the second phase of the project I am now working with graphic designer, Pip Williamson, to create small animations for each emotion. This will be catalogued into an online archive of emotion - once the website is live I will share a link here. The project will be presented in a performative installation where an audience will be invited to embody these shapes through walking their paths, whilst listening to spoken word poetry relating to each emotion. This will take place in September 2021 (more information to follow soon).

​

This artistic research project is generously supported by Het Makersfonds.