Collaborating can be a tricky business, but an artistically endearing one too. I’ve always enjoyed the transformative ability it gives you; the outlet to see into another artist’s world, to understand their way of thinking and perceiving the influences around them.
I’ve recently had the privilege of collaborating with artist Lihui Dong. Li has been exploring the idea of constriction, and then this idea is realised, how it affects the interrelationship between people or a given situation. Before my participation, Li had explored with a number of situations and captured in still images various subjects bound to places they identified with, or objects they find restricting; i.e. a subject with a sweet tooth chose to be bound with sweet wrappers.
Collaborating with Li allowed a process of mutual exploration. In a nutshell, I would improvise, and Li would bind me with ribbon. There would be various objects through the space for me to interact with. Li kept a number details to herself to allow me maximum room to improvise and allow various opportunities to arise. I found this process to be one that allowed me the freedom to explore and play with the space and, as our rehearsal and subsequent performances continued, I developed an awareness surrounding our interrelationship.
I found it curious to observe what happened to how I felt during the wrapping; the instinctive panic that arises in me when I feel trapped physically, and how the certainty with what I can do with my body diminishes. I didn’t realise how unnerving it is to not be able to trust that you can catch yourself when you finish a movement.
This exploration was very much an internal play for myself, and food for a further development for Lihui. This process has been one I’ve enjoyed so much: the opportunity to play and collaborate with another artist is something that makes this life pathway worthwhile.
Performed: 10-13th May 2012
Where: v22, The Biscuit Factory, Bermondsey