How are we caring for ourselves? And others? What makes us feel cared for? How does society look after us? Can art care? Couldn’t Care Less – a week-long live art project curated by Something Human in collaboration with curator Vipash Purichanont. The project is presented in partnership with Deptford Lounge in Southeast London as the second edition of CCLAP (Cross Cultural Live Art Project) and will take place from 2nd to 8th November 2015.

Couldn’t Care Less explores the relationship between performativity and the concept of ‘care’ both as a fundamental human feeling and as an administration of social welfare. “Care” is also variedly described as to have thought or regard. It is deemed to be a state of having affection or inclination, as well as a mindset of caution and anxiety. It implies protection, stewardship and also for which to make future provision – linking the wider philosophical concerns.

Led and mentored by artist, Lynn Lu, the project seeks to generate artistic practice that focuses on the various modes of caring—“intimacy”, “empathy”, “hospitality”, “maternity” and “generosity” versus “administration” “management” “protection” and “custody”. This project will engage with local audiences in the heart of Deptford’s thriving artistic and multicultural community via a series of lectures, seminars, performances and workshops. The project will explore the many issues prevalent and critical in the context of mental and physical health, nursing, social care in ageing Britain and Singapore, and also shared universally in the 21st century.

Participant artists and speakers: Linda Aloysius, Anna McDonald, Hamish MacPherson, Lynn Lu, Martin O'Brien, Prof. Carmine Pariante, Performance Space directors (Bean & Benjamin Sebastian), Ezzam Raham, Sikarnt Skoolisariyaporn, Georgina Theodotou, Eleanor Turnbull, Christina Vasileiou, Winnicott Wednesdays.

CCLAP is a three year live art project began in 2014 that instigates the sharing of the developments and critical reflections of significant and diverse live art practices in Southeast Asia and the UK, to bring the critical contexts for Southeast Asian live art practice in conversation with developments in the UK/European scenes. The project presents thought-provoking live art performances by Southeast Asian and international practitioners in London, bringing their work to both local and a wider international audience.

For the week full programme check Cross-Cultural Live Art Project website: http://cclap.me/

Partners

Something Human

Something Human is an independent curator initiative interested in exploring movement and relationships across boundaries, through our shared multidisciplinary interests in architecture, design, sculpture, mixed media, photography, moving image and performance. We actively seek collaborations with artists, makers and producers from different cultural and socio-political backgrounds, for exchange and dialogue with an aim to create new, exciting performative-driven works. http://something-human.org

Vipash Purichanont

Vipash Purichanont is a postgraduate research student in MPhil/PhD in Curatorial/Knowledge at Department of Visual Cultures, Goldsmiths, University of London. He is also working as an independent curator. His area of interest is Contemporary Art in Thailand and Southeast Asia, Lived Practice and Anthropotechnics. His curatorial projects included: Kamin Lertchaipraset’s “31st Century Museum of Contemporary Spirit Laboratory @ Chicago” in United States (2011) and “Concept Context Contestation: Art and the collective in Southeast Asia” (2014) at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. He is also a founding member of Thai Art Initiative in London (TAIL).

Deptford Lounge

Situated just off Deptford High Street, the Lounge is part of an innovative development sharing facilities with primary school Tidemill Academy, and including Resolution Studios, a development of apartments and studios. It also offers a programme of creative events, in partnership with the Albany, South East London’s leading arts centre situated a two-minute walk from Deptford Lounge in Douglas Way. With a focus on community led partnerships and local enterprise through learning and participation, this unique partnership will bring to the area an engaging blend of performance and creativity through an imaginative use of space.

For more information please, do contact: somethinghuman.info@gmail.com