what are they talking about?
MFA Degree Show, University of Reading, 2013
"What are they talking about?" is a series of events which evolved around the subject of conversation within community contexts.
How to...
Is an ongoing series of events which explore social interaction through the construct of workshops. They are informed and challenged by Tino Sehgal's conversation pieces and Jeremy Deller's celebration of community.
The workshops led onto the idea of a floating bench, relying - for its construction - on ideas and skills drawn from Reading's diverse community:
Bench
The launch of a garden bench onto Reading University's lake is the culmination of negotiations, collaborations and celebrations with experienced sailors, carpenters, university students, interested by-standers, film makers, dog walkers and residents from Lakeside Care Home which overlooks the lake.
The beauty of the lake setting added a contemplative aspect to the project which overlapped with Children as Teachers:
Children as Teachers
This project evolved through regular visits to St Paul's Primary School, Reading where children are learning meditation from Mike Sarson (founder of East-West Detox, which offers holistic alternative therapies for addicts).
The children's lived experience of meditation lends them an animation and confidence when they discuss its merits, so we began to ask whether adults would listen to children if children were teachers.
Three of the children visited Reading University in June 2013 to teach meditation to academics and members of the public. We understand that some of the children's students have carried on meditating since the event.
Reading University Degree Show 2013 website
How to...
Is an ongoing series of events which explore social interaction through the construct of workshops. They are informed and challenged by Tino Sehgal's conversation pieces and Jeremy Deller's celebration of community.
The workshops led onto the idea of a floating bench, relying - for its construction - on ideas and skills drawn from Reading's diverse community:
Bench
The launch of a garden bench onto Reading University's lake is the culmination of negotiations, collaborations and celebrations with experienced sailors, carpenters, university students, interested by-standers, film makers, dog walkers and residents from Lakeside Care Home which overlooks the lake.
The beauty of the lake setting added a contemplative aspect to the project which overlapped with Children as Teachers:
Children as Teachers
This project evolved through regular visits to St Paul's Primary School, Reading where children are learning meditation from Mike Sarson (founder of East-West Detox, which offers holistic alternative therapies for addicts).
The children's lived experience of meditation lends them an animation and confidence when they discuss its merits, so we began to ask whether adults would listen to children if children were teachers.
Three of the children visited Reading University in June 2013 to teach meditation to academics and members of the public. We understand that some of the children's students have carried on meditating since the event.
Reading University Degree Show 2013 website
