‘3 Figs, 4 Voices, Ceramic Prosthesis and a Staircase’ – Research workshop organised by Michelle Atherton at arebyte Gallery

Image courtesy of Michelle Atherton - 3 Figs, 4 Voices, Ceramic Prosthesis and a Staircase Research Workshop at arebyte

Michelle Atherton, Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at Sheffield Hallam University, organised a research workshop on 12 December 2017 at arebyte Gallery, London. The event brought together contributions from artists and academics to explore the current prevalence of the term irrational in public discourse. The aim was to identify present and past irrational gestures and was staged on Richard Wentworth’s recent installation Concertina at arebyte.

3 Figs, 4 Voices, Ceramic Prosthesis and a Staircase Research Workshop
Concertina: arebyte Gallery

London City Island, London
Tuesday 12 December 2017 11AM – 3.30PM

The workshop evolved an understanding of the irrational as those actions, thoughts and behaviours that appear to be more illogical than other rational alternatives. The examples were collated from a multitude of sources including local narratives, historical testimony, automated forms, organic matter, myths, neo-feudal structures and more global outpourings, to give a few examples.

The workshop also saw the establishment of a preliminary taxonomy of irrational gestures. Participants on the day included Michelle Atherton, Jessica Harrington, Wendy Leeks, Lucy Lound and Mandy Gamsu.

This event forms the basis for a new research project titled the Repository of Irrational Gestures (RIG’s) due to be inaugurated and performed in mainland Europe in 2018.

Michelle Atherton is Senior Lecturer in Sheffield Institute of Arts (SIA) and a member of the Art & Design Research Centre (ADRC) within C3RI.