Story Surgery at Whitstable Biennale 2008

As part of Whitstable Biennale 2008 Satellite Programme: LOCAL I enacted a third version of Story Surgery, a one-on-one encounter and participatory piece on the nature of reprise and intimate exchange, which grew out of the R&D project, Space of Memory: Intimate Narratives.
http://www.whitstablebiennale.com/

Feed back from one partaker of Story Surgery at Whitstable Biennale satellite programme, June/July 2008:

"There's not enough moments like this - little pockets of reflection and memory - space to return to times long gone yet a part of us still. We become so caught up in the present we forget to remember the past, and forget that it not only teaches, reminds, but nourishes too.

What a magical moment, being left alone on the beach in the afternoon sun. It felt like a gift too, sharing your photos and memories. And having a chance to remember a special place from my own past. It's not often we're given the chance to step out like this and I'm glad and grateful. Many thanks! x

I would just like to take this opportunity to thanks all those who partook of a surgery for sharing these moments with me...

As part of Whitstable Biennale 2008 Satellite Programme: LOCAL I enacted a third version of Story Surgery, a one-on-one encounter and participatory piece on the nature of reprise and intimate exchange, which grew out of the R&D project, Space of Memory: Intimate Narratives.

http://www.whitstablebiennale.com/

I last presented the work at INTIMACY in Dec 07 - see: http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/intimacy/programme.php

Surgeries last from 15 minutes to an hour depending on the individual - I do not rush a person if she wants to stay with the reverie. The final 5 minutes of each surgery involves a recording. The collection of surgery recordings explore both the nature of how space, the home and memory reside, the visceral and sonic experience of reprise and autobiography. I intend to continue to collect recordings...these will make it into a new sound-based work - installation or performance in the near future. All recordings are anonymous although I will credit those who do not mind their names revealed (but a match between names and recordings will not be made).

Please get in touch if you would like to have a surgery - I am on the look-out for more partakers - also if there is an event you are running in which I could hold some surgeries or a space - gallery - park - etc in which I could do so (I am London-based but would be willing to travel to an event in which I could hold surgeries)...

email me: info@lisaalexander.co.uk

[All images taken by Lisa Alexander, except image of arms & hands by Biggi Stiller]