Somatic Costume Dressing Room – ´Rest and Water`

What if costume (to include everyday clothing) is designed live, in the moment, on bodies, in order to care for, attend and respond to the psychophysical needs of wearers? How can costume mend through its touch – supporting the need for rest, reconnection, rejuvenation, repair?

Instead of costume being a visual effect to serve a theme/character within a performance or a garment-product to sell, could it be a haptic-focused process – advocating embodiment, consciousness and well-being?

Welcome to the Somatic Costume Dressing Room, an online or live meeting place, a participatory performance or workshop, with Sally poetically guiding wearers through tactile encounters using simple materials.

Sessions begin with choreographing attention to the internal, tacit, tactile experiences of the wearer – a somatic approach. Wearers are guided into ´Aware-Wearing´- bringing attention to the effects of costumes´ touch obodies, often starting with eyes closed.

The theme of this session for the artistic research week is `Rest and Water´.

The session is participatory and online. Bring the materials listed below to the session or pick up a pre-pared package at KHIO with information below. Sally’s artistic research aims to challenge ocular-centrism in modern culture, rebalancing the sensorial hierarchy by re-prioritising touch, with the hope that costume and design processes may gain new material and sensorial value beyond the visual or semiotic. It also proposes ´wearing´, a meeting between bodies and materials, as a bridge to knowing and knowledge – through sensorial and embodied experience.

Preparations for the Online Session

Bring the following materials:

– 40 round balloons
– 1 long strong cotton scarf
– 1 long cotton shawl or bed sheet
– 1 elastic or stretchy shirt that fits well to your body
– 3 strong tights (the bigger the better)
– 2 Hot Water Bottles (flat rubber rectangular ones)

To pick up a pre-prepared package at KHIO (a limited supply) contact Sally at salldean@khio.no before Monday, January 24th. The materials will need to be returned to Sally after the event.Prepare a quiet place and comfortable environment for the session. You will need space on the floor to lie on (bring 1-2 blankets, yoga mats and 1-2 pillows). Wear comfortable clothes and brings layers to wear to ensure you are warm enough. Headphones are also recommended.

After dressing in simple costumes, most of the session will be invited to rest your eyes and simply listen.