I will be collaborating with my NTU colleague, Joanne
Lee, as invited 'curators' for the forthcoming artistic research conference
event, Unconditional Love, organised by
SAR Society of Artistic Research, April 30 - May 1 2015, Chelsea
College of Arts / University of the Arts London. More about our proposed
session Care + Attend below.
Image: Joanne Lee, Pam Flett Press, Issue 1, 'Call yourself
a bloody professional'
Care + Attend
comprises a constellation of fragments and extracts - of different intensities
and durations - where the exposition of research emerges as a poetic and
performative event, generating moments of potential resonance and dialogue.
This event explores the theme Unconditional Love through the principles
(perhaps even methodologies) of care and attention, as applied within specific
(artistic) practices of both the everyday and of the self. Beginning with the
observation that both curate and curiosity have shared etymology
in the term ‘care’, Care + Attend seeks to develop a research vocabulary
based on receptivity, openness, fidelity, integrity, intimacy, friendship and
commitment (whilst not ignoring the parallel principles of distraction,
inattention, the act of closing one’s eyes or of looking away). Cocker and Lee
have invited a range of artists & writers to share and reflect
on their own processes, philosophies and politics of care and attention,
and to present these through live performance, screenings and spoken word.