[-empyre-] the body in performance

[Kettley, Sarah]

Ashley,

That's a really interesting point you bring up about how the normative body is configured through the realisation of wearable technology (as fantasy?), and something that philosopher Don Ihde talks about in his book Bodies in Technology.

Today I met with Isabel Jones of Salamanda Tandem in Nottingham, UK, a company which works through dance and touch based interaction with people of all abilities. The company constantly reappraise their working methods, connecting with other disciplines to learn and share practice. Their sensory environments, such as Living Space at Rufford last month, are richly interconnected material and digital spaces facilitated by both dancers and practitioners (based on person-centred skills rather than formal training), and are completely oriented to creating a framework for others' creativity and expression. In particular, towards providing a space and the necessary awareness of value for those with disabilities who have limited access not just to consuming the arts but to expression through such practices. While Salamanda Tandem do not work explicitly with wearable technology, many of the artefacts in these spaces are formally undecidable enough to be transformed into personal spaces, bring the larger scale into a more intimate scale. We are currently talking about how to bring textiles into this environment, both sensing and passive, although increasingly I have issues with this dichotomy.

I look forward to others' thoughts!

Sarah
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