Ecologies of Pain - Performance Lecture at Aberdeen University

Description

In this performance lecture artist-researcher Sarah Hopfinger will discuss and reflect on her ongoing project Ecologies of Pain, which is a performance research project that creatively explores the insights between living with chronic pain and living with, and relating to, wider ecological pain. Living and working with chronic pain can offer insights into what it means to live with fragility and uncertainty, as well as involving expertise in relating to loss and despair. These processes are arguably key at this time of ecological catastrophe and environmental emergency. Ecologies of Pain investigates how the particular ‘pain’ knowledges of people living with chronic pain can be explored and developed as creative practices of resilience for living in a ‘wounded earth’ (Haraway, 2016). As part of this performance lecture, Sarah will also discuss her current performance project, Pain and I - a diversely accessible body of work that includes a live performance, digital audio piece & graphic score. Sarah has lived with chronic back and neurological pain for over 20 years, and has largely related to her pain as a barrier to her life and work. For this performance she turns towards her pain as a creative collaborator, exploring it as an unwanted life partner and intimate companion. Pain and I playfully and unashamedly acknowledges the hardships and celebrates the richness of living with chronic pain. It invited audiences to reflect on what it means to care for our bodies, ourselves, each other in times of personal and collective pain.

Period	30 Nov 2024
Held at	University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom