The Drawing Machine Experiment

The Drawing Machine Experiment originated in an exploration about the distinct connection between drawing, stitch and physical movement. Inspired by the creative-intuitive impulse that travels from brain to body, down the arm and through the hand that creates an impulse to draw and mark freely on the page.

But instead this impulse is carried outside the body with a sewing machine, making marks in stitches. Experimentally changing the structure and shape of fabrics to conceive unorthodox costume pieces. Secondly the performer wears and the costume pieces as an extension of the body- extending beyond the body and affecting movement and imagery.

Various unconventional materials were used including package envelopes, tights/ stockings, large commercial plastic bags, inflatable gym equipment (inflatable gladiator dueling sets), scraps of old clothes from charity shops including over washed, hardened suede and a hard board jigsaw puzzle.

I experimented in stitching into and on to the fabrics and stitching fabrics together. Transforming the shape and structure to make new 'pieces of costume'- unconventional costume (please see imagery). These costume pieces were then worn and treated as extensions of the body, as an extension of the performer, who works with the costume in movement and improvisation.

The final design and structure of each costume impact on the movement of the performer. The performer is forced to work with the specific qualities of each costume. Such as the elasticity of the stocking in contrast with the rigidness of the suede, and the way the costume is connected between arm and foot --binds the movement of both parts of the body together. The jigsaw pieces are woven into one large mass- attached by the mouth. The performer works with the inflections, and ripples created by the space between each jigsaw piece, how it lays out flat or folds into stacks and it's weighty mass as it moves and falls through the air. Not forgetting the transparent character and crinkling sound of the plastic bags; or the inflation, friction and squeaks of the gym equipment.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Dance 4
• Arts Council Engand
• whatsthebigmistry.com
• Steve Lynch
• Oliver Dalby
• Mary Kate Connolley
• Collette Sadler