About
How do humans and animals relate to each other? In The Arts Catalyst's Interspecies exhibition and event, seven international artists have created a range of work that explores this complex relationship. From live experiments that allow visitors to communicate with fish to a video work that explores the age-old affiliation between falconer and falcon, Interspecies brings together a number of artists working with animals and explores the boundaries of our interaction. Curious about the animal's point of view, the artists challenge the dominant human viewpoint and aim to work in collaboration with other species.
Performance artist Kira O'Reilly will take part in a durational performance Falling Asleep with a Pig. Drawing on fairy tales, metamorphosis and the magical intimacy of sleep, the artist will share a living space with a pig for 72 hours. The simple acts of living, sleeping and eating with a different species create an intriguing narrative and suggest a shared experience.
French artist Nicholas Primat worked closely with primates in residencies at zoos and laboratories, spending many months gaining their acceptance. His intuitive video piece, Portrait de Famille, filmed with baboons and spider monkeys, shows a human who had learned how to be fully accepted by another species.
New commissions from The Arts Catalyst include a multi channel video installation by Ruth Maclennan, working with the same falconer in Northumberland as in His Brilliant Eye, and Antony Hall's intriguing Enki Experiment 4, showing how humans communicate with electric fish. Rachel Mayeri will show Primate Cinema, a series of filmed works that translate primate social dramas for human audiences. One screen shows footage of the encounters of baboons, whilst another shows a re-enactment by actors.
Inspired by US philosopher Donna Haraway and her seminal text Companion Species, Interspecies explores human interaction with animals through a mix of video, performance and experiments. Programmed to coincide with Darwin's 200th anniversary, the exhibition is accompanied by free symposia and family events that will question how the arts and sciences approach issues from conservation to animal rights.
Interspecies is organised by The Arts Catalyst in partnership with A Foundation. The Arts Catalyst commissions artists and curates exhibitions which explore contested issues in science and society www.artscatalyst.org
EVENTS all events are free, some have limited places, full details and bookings at www.artscatalyst.org
Friday 2 October
6pm, Exhibition tour with curator Rob La Frenais
79pm, Symposium: Non-Human Primates with Patrick Munck, collaborator with Nicolas Primat, Rachel Mayeri and Sarah Jane Vick, primatologist. Limited spaces, please book online.
Saturday 3 October
1-3pm and 3.30-5.30pm, Primate Cinema: How To Act Like An Animal. Two workshops with Rachel Mayeri for over 16s exploring the social dynamics of non-human primates through performance. Limited spaces, please book online.
2pm, Tour of ENKI experiment 4 with Antony Hall
36pm, Symposium: Animals, Humans and Power (BSL interpreted) with Antennae editor Giovanni Aloi, Photographer Karen Knorr, Helen Macdonald, writer of Falcon, Ruth Maclennan and Snà ¦björnsdóttir/Wilson. Limited spaces, please book online.
6pm, How to Act Like An Animal performance
Sunday 4 October
25pm, Interspecies Family Day
2-4pm Becoming Bowerbirds. These intriguing birds show unusual creativity - they construct bowers which they decorate with found objects to attract females. Children 5 years and above are invited to be a bowerbird for the afternoon with artist Sally Hampson. (From an Arts Catalyst project at London Zoo co-funded by COPUS). Advance booking recommended.
2pm, 3pm and 4pm, Interspecies Tales by poet and storyteller Shamim Azad
4.30pm, Animal Handler's Tales, James Mackay in conversation with curator Rob La Frenais.
Admission free to all events. Accompanied children and families welcome. Unfortunately, dogs cannot be permitted.
Limited access to some parts of the exhibition and events, please contact admin@artscatalyst.org for further information
Interspecies will be accompanied by an online catalogue published by Antennae in 2010.
Exhibition funded by Arts Council England, Darwin 200 and A Foundation
