De-Placing Future Memory
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Department Name: Classics and Ancient History
Abstract
Monuments and places are seen as containers of infused memory, but the extent to which they mold, enhance or weaken bonds of attachment and belonging have not been fully investigated. Nor has the potential of the material to act as the projector of memory into the future through an anticipation of a particular audience response and experience. It is these qualities of the bond between memory and the material world that this project seeks to explore.
Recent dialogues between archaeologists and historians have enabled access to those pasts, which are not in the written record, and experiences, which are not conveyed through verbal or textual media alone, due to their subliminal nature. This has been possible through history's questioning of 'the event' and 'the fact' and through archaeology's exploration of how the material world can act as agent, guiding action and perception. To better understand such phenomena and the role of the participant or audience these disciplines have also turned to the dramatic arts. The tangibility of the physical world and how it is experienced is also a key research focus in geography leading to debates about the relational or culturally constructed essence of place. These strands of inquiry may not be surprising in what is perceived as a rapidly shrinking world, with high levels of human mobility. Negotiations about identity, homeland and attachment to place, are often at the root of investigations of contemporary migrations and politics in conflict regions. But it is rare that the impact of the physical world, and its role is brought into consideration.
It will begin by drawing on the insights from current research trends in the disciplines outlined above, and bring these together with the methods of practicing visual artists. The aim is to learn from the way in which the past and present multi-sensory experience is translated into their work, that in turn forms a lens through which to view and interact with the world. The power of an artist's work is in part drawn from the ability to tap into and embody meaningful memories, but also in the capacity to anticipate and guide a particular future response to their art. Hence the workshops will not only create a forum for verbal debate but foster exchange of ideas through an engagement with non-verbal sensory media. This part of the project will be enacted via an artist led journey into place, guiding participants in translating their experience through an artistic form. This, along with seminars, will comprise the initial meeting of contributors. The second workshop will reflect on and take forward the knowledge gained in the first through a mixture of papers and a presentation of the artist's work, in an exhibition, prepared specifically for the project. It is the intention that this will be a traveling exhibition, which will first be hosted in the gallery hall of Exeter University's Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies.
The results of this dialogue will be presented in the form of a catalogue memory-guide, which will incorporate images of the artwork, a paper about the project and abstracts or views from the participants. These will also be disseminated, incorporating experimental art works by the participants, via a project based website. Contributions will also be drawn together in an edited volume, and a theoretical and methodological article on the impact of the material world on memory transmission. The wider community will be incorporated in the experience of the workshop through a presentation and public opening of the exhibition. It will also coincide with the 'Schools Conference', held at the University for local secondary institutions, as part of a Widening Participation initiative. As part of this event, alongside interactive seminars, the artists will use the exhibition and a short art journey as a starting point for exploration of key project themes of memory, identity and materialty, with the school children.
Recent dialogues between archaeologists and historians have enabled access to those pasts, which are not in the written record, and experiences, which are not conveyed through verbal or textual media alone, due to their subliminal nature. This has been possible through history's questioning of 'the event' and 'the fact' and through archaeology's exploration of how the material world can act as agent, guiding action and perception. To better understand such phenomena and the role of the participant or audience these disciplines have also turned to the dramatic arts. The tangibility of the physical world and how it is experienced is also a key research focus in geography leading to debates about the relational or culturally constructed essence of place. These strands of inquiry may not be surprising in what is perceived as a rapidly shrinking world, with high levels of human mobility. Negotiations about identity, homeland and attachment to place, are often at the root of investigations of contemporary migrations and politics in conflict regions. But it is rare that the impact of the physical world, and its role is brought into consideration.
It will begin by drawing on the insights from current research trends in the disciplines outlined above, and bring these together with the methods of practicing visual artists. The aim is to learn from the way in which the past and present multi-sensory experience is translated into their work, that in turn forms a lens through which to view and interact with the world. The power of an artist's work is in part drawn from the ability to tap into and embody meaningful memories, but also in the capacity to anticipate and guide a particular future response to their art. Hence the workshops will not only create a forum for verbal debate but foster exchange of ideas through an engagement with non-verbal sensory media. This part of the project will be enacted via an artist led journey into place, guiding participants in translating their experience through an artistic form. This, along with seminars, will comprise the initial meeting of contributors. The second workshop will reflect on and take forward the knowledge gained in the first through a mixture of papers and a presentation of the artist's work, in an exhibition, prepared specifically for the project. It is the intention that this will be a traveling exhibition, which will first be hosted in the gallery hall of Exeter University's Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies.
The results of this dialogue will be presented in the form of a catalogue memory-guide, which will incorporate images of the artwork, a paper about the project and abstracts or views from the participants. These will also be disseminated, incorporating experimental art works by the participants, via a project based website. Contributions will also be drawn together in an edited volume, and a theoretical and methodological article on the impact of the material world on memory transmission. The wider community will be incorporated in the experience of the workshop through a presentation and public opening of the exhibition. It will also coincide with the 'Schools Conference', held at the University for local secondary institutions, as part of a Widening Participation initiative. As part of this event, alongside interactive seminars, the artists will use the exhibition and a short art journey as a starting point for exploration of key project themes of memory, identity and materialty, with the school children.
Organisations
- UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- European Research Council (ERC) (Collaboration)
- Global Centre and Devon Development Education (Collaboration)
- University of Minnesota (Collaboration)
- Decolonizing Architecture Art Residency (DAAR) (Collaboration)
- Campus in Camps (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Elena Isayev (Principal Investigator) |
Title | 1000 Colours Blue Exhibition |
Description | The creation of 1000 Colours Blue exhibited in Swansea and in Glasgow See Report and images: http://projects.beyondtext.ac.uk/deplacingfuturememory-fo/index.php https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5386 |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2011 |
Impact | See Report and images: http://projects.beyondtext.ac.uk/deplacingfuturememory-fo/index.php https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5386 |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5386 |
Title | 1000 Colours Blue Performance |
Description | Numerous workshops with local choirs in Swansea, Aberystwyth and Exeter, to create a live CHoir performance in the centre of Swansea using the art work 1000 COlours Blue as the SOund Score See Report and images: http://projects.beyondtext.ac.uk/deplacingfuturememory-fo/index.php https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5386 |
Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
Year Produced | 2011 |
Impact | It led to further proejcts in Glasgow - Future Memory in Red Road with art pracittioners and community members (http://on.fb.me/1a4SZjp; http://bit.ly/19u93Aa) and also See REPORT http://projects.beyondtext.ac.uk/deplacingfuturememory-fo/index.php https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5386 |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5386 |
Title | A series of 8 paintings with mixed media by all participants created during the workshop |
Description | paintings |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | exhibition |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Title | Catrin Webster: a series of works made up of numerous postcards, as well as paintings and drawings |
Description | prints and paintings |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | exhibition |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Title | Creation of a series of art works by Hurcombe and MalAllah |
Description | multimedia installations and sculptures |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | exhibition / collaboration |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Title | Creation of the book by de-colonizing Architecture: Wezman, Hillal and Petti: 'The Book of Returns' |
Description | Book / art piece |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | exhibition |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Title | De-Placing Future Memory |
Description | exhibition and performance |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | exhibition and performance |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Title | Future Memory in Red Road Glasgow Art Work |
Description | The creation of coloured Sheets and fabrics representing stories gathered from archaeological objects, collected by participants (school pupils) by Artist Catrin Webster and Participants, hung on the Red Road Flats See details and images: http://on.fb.me/1a4SZjp; http://bit.ly/19u93Aa |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Impact | This brought together numerous members of the community, including those in conflict, long term residents and refugees into a shared event, and also got some of them to establish relationships, that were previously difficult. It also changed perception of the nature of the site and the stories and narrative s associated with ti, through a combination of ancient history, archaeology, art and music. See details and images: http://on.fb.me/1a4SZjp; http://bit.ly/19u93Aa |
URL | https://www.facebook.com/pages/Future-Memory-In-Red-Road/567530939948200 |
Title | Future Memory in Red Road Glasgow Performance |
Description | A musical and artistic performance, involving live choir and pre-recorded music / stories projected from the Red Road Flats, with hundreds of local people and residents coming to attend. See details and images: http://on.fb.me/1a4SZjp; http://bit.ly/19u93Aa |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2013 |
Impact | This brought together numerous members of the community, including those in conflict, long term residents and refugees into a shared event, and also got some of them to establish relationships, that were previously difficult. It also changed perception of the nature of the site and the stories and narrative s associated with ti, through a combination of ancient history, archaeology, art and music. See details and images: http://on.fb.me/1a4SZjp; http://bit.ly/19u93Aa |
URL | https://www.facebook.com/pages/Future-Memory-In-Red-Road/567530939948200 |
Title | Inside Out' by Maya Verlaak |
Description | composition |
Type Of Art | Composition/Score |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | performance |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Title | Jonathan Lee 15 minute composition 'Remember Me' |
Description | Orchestral performance |
Type Of Art | Composition/Score |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | Orchestral performance |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Title | Postcard Exhibition |
Description | See Report and images: http://projects.beyondtext.ac.uk/deplacingfuturememory-fo/index.php https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5386 |
Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
Year Produced | 2011 |
Impact | It led to further proejcts in Glasgow - Future Memory in Red Road with art pracittioners and community members (http://on.fb.me/1a4SZjp; http://bit.ly/19u93Aa) and also See REPORT http://projects.beyondtext.ac.uk/deplacingfuturememory-fo/index.php https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5386 |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5386 |
Title | Rashad Salim: An installation and music piece: The Piano Project with Marion Wood |
Description | music performance with multimedia sculpture - instrument |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | performance |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Title | Rashad Salim: two pieces of art ink on paper scrolls: 1) Series: Allegory 2) Series: Ain-Ohm-Epsilon |
Description | Multimedia art piece |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2008 |
Impact | exhibition |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Title | Remember Me |
Description | Short operatic piece |
Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | performance |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Title | Sculpture Tessera Hospitalis |
Description | A sculpture permanently located at the Swansea National Waterfront Museum See Report and images: http://projects.beyondtext.ac.uk/deplacingfuturememory-fo/index.php https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5386 |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2011 |
Impact | It led to further proejcts in Glasgow - Future Memory in Red Road with art pracittioners and community members (http://on.fb.me/1a4SZjp; http://bit.ly/19u93Aa) and also See REPORT http://projects.beyondtext.ac.uk/deplacingfuturememory-fo/index.php https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5386 |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5386 |
Title | Shauna McMullan : 2 pieces entitled: IN BLACK AND WHITE |
Description | Mixed Media Artwork |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2008 |
Impact | Exhibition |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Title | Shauna McMullan and Catrin Webster: Re-constructing Cartographies (2009) 16 Prints |
Description | multimedia prints |
Type Of Art | Artwork |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | exhibition |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Title | Short piece operatic performance based on a libretto by Anna Korula |
Description | Operatic performance |
Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | Operatic performance |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Title | The Piano Project |
Description | installation / performance |
Type Of Art | Performance (Music, Dance, Drama, etc) |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Impact | installation performance, workshops |
URL | https://ore.exeter.ac.uk/repository/handle/10472/5258 |
Description | These can be found in the report entitled: De-Placement: Constructing & Mapping Place in Collaboration with Artists. : http://hdl.handle.net/10472/5340 |
Exploitation Route | As method of bringing together theory and practice. See report above |
Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy Creative Economy Education Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
URL | http://hdl.handle.net/10472/5340 |
Description | The have led to Engagment projects thorugh FoF scheme and AHRC award (AH/I025956/1) |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Education,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
Description | Future Memory in Place |
Amount | £24,426 (GBP) |
Funding ID | AH/I025956/1 |
Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Italy as a Cross Road: The transformative nature of Human Mobility. The Italian case as an explanatory model. |
Amount | £28,324 (GBP) |
Funding ID | AH/I027118/1 |
Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start |
Description | Paradoxes of Place |
Amount | £28,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Princeton University |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United States |
Start |
Description | Alternative place currently applying for funding to work with international artists to the ERC. |
Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
Country | Belgium |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Information taken from Final Report |
Description | Campus in Camps |
Organisation | Campus in Camps |
Country | Palestine, State of |
Sector | Multiple |
PI Contribution | Providing an alternative place to think through contemporary concerns - thanks to research into the ancient world and migration |
Collaborator Contribution | Expertise and Experience of working with Displaced people esp. Refugees. |
Impact | Application for further funding, AHRC |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | DAAR Decolonising Architecture |
Organisation | Decolonizing Architecture Art Residency (DAAR) |
Country | Palestine, State of |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Providing an alternative place to think through contemporary concerns - thanks to research into the ancient world and migration |
Collaborator Contribution | Expertise and Experience of working with Displaced people esp. Refugees. |
Impact | Multi-disciplinary and multi-practice - has led to further activity and collaborations, including engagement activities, and grant applications. |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Global Centre - NO MIgrants |
Organisation | Global Centre and Devon Development Education |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Providing an alternative place to think through contemporary concerns - thanks to research into the ancient world and migration, esp. during Current Refugee Crisis |
Collaborator Contribution | Platform and Space in which to carry out the discourse with members of the Public |
Impact | A talk to the General Public and future invitation to contribute to discussion on Europe |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Italy as a Cross Road: The transformative nature of Human Mobility. The Italian case as an explanatory model |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Considers the last two thousand years in a diachronic study of human mobility, using Italy as a model. |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | Long term Global Migration History |
Organisation | University of Minnesota |
Department | Immigration History Research Center |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | A research collaboration investigating long term historical trends in migration |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Performing Ideas: Interdisciplinary workshop on research and performance (ESRC) |
Organisation | University of Exeter |
Department | Department of Politics and International Relations |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Co-Organiser Dario Castiglione, Politics, University of Exeter New methods of incorporating Research and Performance, and training postgraduates, an exchange of ideas. It was based on some of the Methods form the Future Memory projects by Isayev, funded by AHRC |
Collaborator Contribution | New methods of incorporating Research and Performance, and training postgraduates, an exchange of ideas. It was based on some of the Methods form the Future Memory projects by Isayev, funded by AHRC. The partners contribution was ways of thinking about performance. |
Impact | Ongoing discussion about methods of linking Research with practice. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Europe Discourse - Global Centre |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Providing an alternative place to think through contemporary concerns - thanks to research into the ancient world and migration, esp. during Current Refugee Crisis Specifically as concerns Europe. Discourse and changes in views beyond what is believed in the Media - creation of a workign partnership with Global Centre. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.globalcentredevon.org.uk/events/gc-community-events |
Description | Radio - Politics, migration and place, boundaries and finance' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | with others, hosted by Audaye, 'Politics, migration and place, boundaries and finance' Programme Title: A Head of the Curve Date of and time of broadcast:Wednesday 14th July 10 5pm-6pm GMT Phonic FM 106.8, Devon, UK http://www.phonic.fm/2010/07/30/politics-migration-and-place-boundaries-and-finance/ Radio Interview about key issues |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | Radio - Spaces and places from antiquity to present day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | with Richard Seaford, hosted by Audaye, 'Spaces and places from antiquity to present day' Programme Title: A Head of the Curve Date of and time of broadcast: Friday 24th December 10 10am-12pm GMT Phonic FM 106.8, Devon, UK http://www.phonic.fm/2010/12/24/spaces-and-places-from-antiquity-to-present-day/ Interest in topic |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | School Visit for Outreach event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | School Discussion about Migration ancient and modern |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |