AARON WILLIAMSON WITH RAINHAM SHEDS
Demonstrating the World
25 May 2016
The NiNES Peckham
Aaron Williamson presented Demonstrating the World, followed by Rainham Sheds performing a new live soundtrack to Buster Keaton’s The Electric House from 1922.
In Demonstrating the World, Williamson explores the alien or other through an absurdly elaborate live reinterpretation of YouTube “How To” videos. Drawing from this contemporary archive of folk performance, Williamson enacts everyday tasks such as opening a cupboard, removing a jacket or sitting on a chair, accompanied by detailed step by step instructions.
He illustrates the required posture and hand shapes and describes shifting muscular tension, both reinforcing and destabilising the apparent familiarity of these everyday actions.
Williamson highlights the sculptural qualities of ergonomic design through a radically displaced domestic interior, designed in collaboration with architect Ida Martin and built by Studio LW. Separated from their expected practical functions, this series of household objects creates a space in which to question the intuitive negotiation of even the most habitual activity.
Drawing upon Williamson’s longstanding research into slapstick and silent comedy, the multifunction furniture was conceived partly in reference to Buster Keaton’s The Electric House from 1922.
Following Williamson’s performance, the film was screened with a newly commissioned live soundtrack by Rainham Sheds. The group used their song Sex with Furniture as a starting point for improvisation and punk durational sound.
ABOUT AARON WILLIAMSON
Aaron Williamson’s interdisciplinary engagement with performance, objects, place and space is informed by his experience of becoming deaf and by a politicised and humorous approach to disability.
At the time of this event, Williamson had created more than 300 performances, interventions, videos, installations and publications for museums and festivals around the world, as well as works presented in locations including mountains, rivers, volcanic craters, small islands, rooftops and a single car lock up garage in Hackney.
RAINHAM SHEDS
Rainham Sheds were:
Kate Mahony
Vocals
Gemma Fleet
Guitar
Jenna Finch
Drums
Maria Doohan
Keys
Their work combined music, performance and irreverent subject matter, with songs addressing theorists, art stars, work, relationships and everyday experience.
For this event, Rainham Sheds performed a newly commissioned live soundtrack to Buster Keaton’s The Electric House from 1922.
ACCESS
Aaron Williamson’s performance was sign interpreted and audio described.
Audio description was incorporated into the work itself, with Williamson providing real time verbal descriptions of the objects he used, the actions and gestures he made and the postures he adopted.
EVENT DETAILS
25 May 2016
The Nines
Copeland Estate
133 Copeland Road
Peckham, SE15 3SN
COLLABORATORS
Demonstrating the World featured a domestic interior designed in collaboration with architect Ida Martin and built by Studio LW.
The evening also featured Rainham Sheds performing a newly commissioned live soundtrack to Buster Keaton’s The Electric House from 1922.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Performance documentation: Tinatin Shaburishvili