Event
The Deep Ecology Council
Tuesday 13 February 2024
Participatory workshop led by Sarah Perks
This performative and fun workshop facilitated by Sarah Perks, the co-curator of The Scale of Things brings everyone into a council meeting agenda with a difference. Shared with non-humans, it is an opportunity to connect with all lifeforms on our planet. Starting with a mediation, participants learn to speak through animals, insects, waterways, mountains, oceans, plants and more. The council works through issues, ending with a communal vocal pledge to the future.
Sign-up
Sign-up to participate via Eventbrite
No preparation required, just bring yourself and a desire to connect to the world
Biography
Sarah Perks is an interdisciplinary curator and writer based in the Tees Valley working across a number of fields including contemporary art, design, science and film. She is Professor of Curating in the School of Arts and Creative Industries at Teesside University, which includes international art gallery and museum MIMA. A specialist in relational curatorial strategy, her research focuses on interaction with socio-political and socio-economic issues including class, inclusivity and environmental concerns.
Sarah is a co-curator of The Scale of Things currently on show at Cooper Gallery.
One of Creative Review’s 50 Creative Leaders in 2017, Sarah has led major participation, performance and curatorial projects with international artists including Rosa Barba, Phil Collins, David Lynch, Rachel Maclean, Noorafshan Mirza & Brad Butler and Qasim Riza Shaheen. Sarah previously held the position of Programme and Engagement Director at Cornerhouse (2008-2015) and the joint appointment of Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University and inaugural Artistic Director at HOME (2014-2019), Manchester.
Sarah has published over twenty essays and books across critical and creative writing, including Artists Moving Image in Britain Since 1989 (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art & Yale University Press, 2019). Sarah is a trustee of Alchemy Film & Arts (Hawick, Scotland) and was Programme Advisor (Artist Moving Image) for the BFI London Film Festival (2019-2022).
About the exhibition
The Scale of Things is a group exhibition of three moving image works that consider relations between humans and non-humans forming an exploration through history, intimacy and spirituality. Presenting the Scottish premiere of Grace Ndiritu’s Becoming Plant (2022), alongside Saodat Ismailova’s The Haunted (2017), and on its fiftieth anniversary, Margaret Tait’s Aerial (1974).
These works are brought together by a desire to unsettle how we imagine and see ourselves as part of nature. Understanding the recurring need for intimacy, to feel a connection that is commeasurable with our ability to impact and control, the exhibition approaches desire itself; the desire to plunge our bodies deep into the earth and transcend the bounded individualism of being ‘human.’
Co-curated by Sophia Yadong Hao (Cooper Gallery, DJCAD) and Professor Sarah Perks (Teesside University).
Read more on our exhibition page.
Access
Cooper Gallery is located to the right side of the DJCAD buildings on Perth Road. The entrance is via double doors which face onto a car park.
The gallery is on two floors. Ground floor has ramped access. First floor is accessible by an internal lift and six steps with a handrail. Wheelchair access is via a stairclimber. Please email in advance if you require lift or stairclimber access.
First floor is also accessible via 24 steps. Two flights of 12 steps with handrails are separated by a landing.
Exhibition video is subtitled and captioned in English. Audio will be played aloud via speakers. Seating is provided and/or additional seating available, please ask an invigilator.
For all enquiries please email: exhibitions@dundee.ac.uk
Toilets
The ground floor has a wheelchair accessible toilet. The toilet is gender neutral.
Interpretation
Large print versions of the exhibition information handout are available, please ask our Guides. If you require alternative formats for material in exhibitions please email or ask our Guides.
Image credit
Saodat Ismailova, The Haunted, 2017 (film still)
Funding support
The Scale of Things is supported by Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design
Cooper Gallery
exhibitions@dundee.ac.uk