performance, possession + automation: Dhanveer Singh Brar and Nicholas Ridout in Conversation
- Date
- Wednesday 21 May 2025
- Venue
The Garrett Centre
- Address
117A Mansford Street, E2 6LX
- Timings
7-9.30pm (doors open 6.30pm)
- Price
- Pay What You Can (£0/£4/£8)
Please join us on Wednesday 21 May at 7pm for a discussion between Dhanveer Singh Brar and Nicholas Ridout about their recent collaborative research project performance, possession + automation.
Working across Live Art and music on a project that has combined their research with the work of numerous artists and other researchers, Dhanveer and Nick have been exploring the connections between the histories and legacies of plantation slavery and the present-day realities of industrial and post-industrial automation. Performance, they suggest, is one place to look for traces of this connection, and for exploring potential for practical and spiritual refusal.
How might the activity of gathering for live performance be a way of making life in automated capitalism liveable? Why does losing yourself in dance sometimes look and feel like being automated?
Dhanveer and Nick will share some of their recent work in an informal presentation, which will be followed by audience questions and discussion.
Biographies
Nicholas Ridout is a writer, researcher, teacher, with interests in theatre, labour, politics and critical theory.
Dhanveer Singh Brar is a writer, researcher and teacher focussing on questions of race, culture, aesthetics, politics and theory.
performance, possession + automation
performance, possession + automation is a collaborative research project, led by Dhanveer Singh Brar, Nicholas Ridout and Orlagh Woods, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, in partnership with Fierce Festival and Transform Festival and with the collaboration of performingborders.
Access Information
Event information
This is a seated event, various seating options will be available including fold out chairs, office chairs, a sofa and a bench. All are welcome to join in a relaxed space and are free to come and go as they please. The lighting will be fixed with no sudden changes and microphone amplification will be used. There are disposable masks and hand sanitiser available. Please be aware that the event will be audio recorded.
LADA space
The building is wheelchair accessible by lift and provides a wheelchair accessible ground-floor bathroom. All bathrooms are gender inclusive. There is no isolated quiet space inside, but there is a small quiet outdoor area. Some of the art on display in the space includes naked bodies. You can find more information and see photos of the space here. Should you have any particular access requirements, please email [email protected] and we will be happy to offer further support.
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