Somatic Acting Process

A very significant aspect of Somatic Acting Process is its ongoing engagement with and contribution to formal research on embodiment within the context of Artistic Research or Practice Research.

On Friday May 9 I had the privilege and honour of sharing my Artistic Research on Touch at the International Conference of Artistic Research in Porto on the theme of Resonance.

What you see in the pictures is me "meeting" the active participants as co-players through the opening contact of a high five. Just the meeting contact using

our hands as source of contact
our palms as points of contact
zero pressure
active stillness as part of tactile movement
contact with the space and the other

what you don't see

is that this meeting came after preparation on self-directed touch unpacking individually these five principles

what you don't hear

is that as I meet the active participants a voice recording by Anita Chari on receptive and somatic resonance plays. Part of my ongoing investigations into bringing together embodied experiencing and embodied thinking.

The recording plays through our touch, if we touch. Because I like bridging experimentation with haptic gadgets and conductive materials. And is there any more vibrant conductive vessel than our own bodies?

This phase was also followed by invitations towards full-body engagement based on the cyclical sequencing: I touch-I move-I sound-I speak.

I'm grateful

to the peer reviewers and the one who wrote: "I consider this proposal to be innovative. It proposes an important personal and innovative path for reflection on artistic research".

to all the participants and the one who shared: "it created an orchestra of sensation; connecting with the other in sound, movement, meaning making. Collaboration with complete autonomy".

to Paulo Luis Almeida, organiser of the conference at the University of Porto and moderator for my sharing.

to Marina Didier from the Research Institute in Art, Design and Society for sharing her excitement for my contribution and for taking the pictures.

to Anita Chari for the recording and for being in the room with us

Let's see what resonates next...

As a much-needed break is closely approaching, a sharing of a principle that always accompanies my work with actors in training and creative practice seems apt!

A state of restful activity is not always easy, especially when "external noise" disrupts the process, but it is an ongoing destination nonetheless.

Wishing each and every single one of you who visits this page a plethora of restful and joyful activities!

This "magic" moment of realising we do not have to force ourselves into an expected or imposed state of activity.

So precious to witness the transformation when it arises.