Multiplicity in Practice: Emergent Compositions

by Vera Sofia Mota

Research Presentation: Master of Theatre Practices

June 14, 2018 -  Studio 20 - 16:00 to 17:00 - ArtEZ - University of the Arts, Onderlangs 9 - 6812 CE Arnhem - The Netherlands.

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Multiplicity in Practice: Emergent Compositions

`Multiplicity in practice` and `emergent compositions` are my working methods and they can have artistic and (political-)ethical implications. In my 2-year active research (2014-16) and my 2-year passive research (2016-18) I used both in the composition and research for performative works and in my writing, which focused mainly on the work conditions of artists now-a-days.

a) How to practice multiplicity?

b) How to compose through emergence?

c) How do art and artists function in and survive the institutional field, which is so highly regulated today?

1) Multiplicity in practice is the practice of articulating plurality, multiplicity, diversity, difference. There are multiple possibilities for articulation. I prefer and have explored more `ecological` forms of articulation, like series or variations. I will show examples and we can practice it together.

2) Emergent systems of composition are time-based reiterative systems which allow the emergence of patterns, orders and a progressive transformation of the materials at work by means of repetition of gestures, movements, actions, behaviours, conditions. These systems can either be found (because already there) or they must be conditioned/created/stimulated. I will show examples and we can also practice it together.

3) What do curators, theoreticians, critics, cultural policy makers, scholars, etc. know about the artists` work? Certainly a lot, but wouldn`t we run the danger of a speech alienated from the art practice itself and the real conditions/needs of the artists if we always talk on the third person? Shouldn`t artists be firstly listened to when the topic is about their work conditions? I will explain how I researched these questions and say them out loud again.

d) How could we overcome this ditch between the artists/the art work and the institutes?

4) Inspired by the American philosopher Michael Hardt and his conference on love as a political concept, About love (2007), and forwarding the practice of love as a possible answer, I`ll propose a discussion on what love is as to try address the question: how could the artists practice love with the institutes, and vice-versa?

Mentors: João da Silva, Konstantina Georgelou, Nienke Terpsma