The Test Of Intelligence (2011)
For too long we have accepted intelligence as a hierarchical structure, allowed intelligence to inform our responses and demean those lesser informed. But is intelligence not just a social construct like that of religion, are we not just falling for the same power structures religion once imposed. The unquestioned identity of intelligence has been prevalent for too long.
The performance takes two familiar situations and pushes them together, the IQ test and the lecture / sermon. The audience take part in both, physically undertaking an intelligence test with a difference, whilst enduring a monolog that questions the reality of intelligence. The two scenarios begin on a par as the audience begin the test but gradually the speaker’s voice takes over that of the tester and the intelligence test becomes impossible to complete.
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20th May (2011)
20th May was a collaborative performance with Alan Armstrong that was rooted in research strategies and how different forms of research could be presented in one performance. The starting point for interrogation was 20th May, and events of historical significance that had occurred on this date throughout time. Research was articulated in two ways, the first through a monologue reading information obtained through the internet and a PowerPoint presentation, which provided the back drop to the performance. The second took the same dates of significance but the research was presented through actions that required audience participation. Some of the significant events that were represented were; the birthday of the singer Cher, the Second Battle of Lincolnshire, Bonaparte re-instating slavery.
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2010 Challenge (2010-11)
One project, 12 challenges, 12 months
Throughout the course of 2010 challenges were submitted to be undertaken and used as a starting point for the production of art work. It aimed to test artistic practice by undertaking tasks that were in some way alien, and challenges that didn't allow for easy options and had a high chance of struggle, fatigue and failure. Although the challenges were invited to be open, many of those submitted were personal to the challengers, and relevant to the individual.
Throughout the course of the project the emphasis began to shift. Instead of selecting the most challenging each month, the challenges began to be selected with the quality of art work in mind. The project was an exploration into the collaborative act of an artistic practice, and the exploration was an opportunity to discover, take part, learn, take risks, fail and excel. The project concluded in 2011.
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Pocahontas and the Masquerade Ball (2009)
Performance for the Wasp Room / Tether, Imagination Christmas exhibition.
Pocahontas and The Masquerade Ball fused two stories together that of the Native American Pocahontas and the other The Masquerade of Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe. The audience were invited to a masquerade ball which Pocahontas the native American princess was said to frequently enjoy after becoming married to an English man. The character of Pocahontas remained in traditional costume for the duration of the ball and gave the audience stylized native American animal masks to wear and candles to hold. The candles acted as a symbolic reference to the Masquerade of Red Death where the story’s main protagonist is murdered in the final room of his castle where he attempts to run away from a plague that has killed many of his subjects.
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IMPOSTOR (2009)
Find the missing experiment
Amelia Beavis-Harrison and Alan Armstrong
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INTERЯOGATION WALSALL (2009)
Under cover mission for Longhouse and the New Art Gallery Walsall to interrogate the public spaces of Walsall.
After a master class in consultation interrogation techniques, two hours were given to prepare a mission. Using the interrogation zone (the square out side of New Art Gallery Walsall) the audience were re-directed 25meters out of their comfort zone of walking along the face of a wall. The two agents marched along a white line suggesting that the audience follow, escorting the public along the new route, in an attempt to disseminate their reactions to the situation and their thoughts on the use of the space.
Amelia Beavis-Harrison and Alan Armstrong