Catalysing Change Through Artful Agitation: Part I: Be Ill-Disciplined
Channel: HowlRound Theatre Commons
Date: 2020-09-19

performingbordersLIVE20 and Contact presented Catalysing Change Through Artful Agitation: Part I: Be Ill-Disciplined livestreamed on the global, commons-based, peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Saturday 19 September 2020.

“We need new compasses, fresh tools, and untried directions.”  

With the current pandemic, Black Lives Matter, and the ongoing crises in climate, health, and technological control, we’ve all been thinking a lot about leadership, specifically: What makes a ‘good’ leader? What could a new kind of leader look like? As artists, curators, creative producers, and theatre-makers, how can we make art, make shows, and make change? 

Kai Syng Tan  is an artist, curator and academic. She argues that "artists–especially artists with ‘non-standard’ and neurodiverse ways of thinking–can help invent new solutions to the major challenges facing our societies, and work to co-create a fairer world."

In this online performance lecture, Kai will explore how creativity and neurodiversity can drive social change.

"Normal" hasn’t worked, so we need leaders with atypical ways of being, thinking, making, and organising for our "new normal".  Be Ill-disciplined invites you to critically and creatively explore leadership–and to think about yourself as a leader. The lecture will include a chance for discussion and questions.

With her multi-disciplinary practice that crosses the boundaries between art and science, we are excited to have Kai Syng Tan contributing to the performingbordersLIVE20 program her direct, though-provoking, and always irreverent approach to neurodiversity, normality, and how to reimagine our world. "Productive antagonisms" (Latham, Tan, 2017) is a pivotal concept in Kai Syng Tan’s work and, as a long-term contributor of the performingborders platform, we have had the pleasure of following the artistic trajectory her explosive mind and practice that encompasses visual art, live art, research, teaching, mentoring, writing, and much more.

The event will be facilitated by artist, writer and curator Ashokkumar Mistry.

Be Ill-Disciplined is a partnership between performingborders and Contact for performingbordersLIVE20. Supported by the Arts Council England.

BIOGRAPHIES
Dr Kai Syng Tan FRSA SFHEA is an artist, curator, consultant and academic. Marked by an ‘eclectic style and cheeky attitude’ (Sydney Morning Herald), ‘radical interdisciplinarity’ (Dr Alan Latham, UCL) and ‘positive atmosphere’ (Guardian), Kai’s work has been widely shared. She is Senior Lecturer at Manchester School of Art and Visiting Artist at King’s College London. Networks she has founded include: RUN! RUN! RUN!, Neurodiversity In/And Creative Research, Running Cultures Research Group and Co-Founder and Member of Arts and Mobilities Network. She is also UK Adult ADHD Network Creative and Cultural Consultant, PsychART Advisor and Music In Detention trustee.

Ashokkumar Mistry is a multidisciplinary artist, writer and curator working in the UK and internationally. His writing encompasses direct research and personal experiences relating to neurodiversity with a view to sharing experiences and changing attitudes. He is currently Associate Artist with Disability Arts Online and a Development Artist with The Spark Arts. Ashokkumar has been commissioned by the BBC and a number of galleries such as the Lowry and Southbank Centre to create artworks and exhibitions. As a curator, he has worked with AIS for a number of years developing innovative and thought-provoking exhibitions. Ashokkumar has also developed a number of exhibitions in Taiwan for National Cheng Kung University and A-Glow space.

Part of  performingbordersLIVE20 program (March – November 2020).  A public programme of open calls, artist digital commissions, residencies, workshops, open conversations, and events, focusing on the exploration of experimental and exciting artistic practices happening within the UK Live Art sector around notions and lived experiences of physical, cultural, juridical, racial, gendered, class, and everyday borders.

Contact. We are the leading national theatre and arts venue to place young people at the decision-making heart of everything. At Contact, young people aged 13-30 genuinely lead, working alongside staff in deciding the artistic programme, making staff appointments and act as full Board members.The result is an outstanding, diverse and accessible artistic programme for everyone.

https://howlround.com/happenings/catalysing-change-through-artful-agitation-part-i-be-ill-disciplined