Polyphonic BodiesCurated by Erin Li
Jamal Sterrett. Photo by Ethan Porter. Image courtesy of the artist.
Polyphonic Bodies is a series of collaborative curatorial projects by Erin Li exploring the fluidity and multitude of identities. The event is delivered as part of Erin's Curatorial Fellowship at Whitechapel Gallery.
Polyphonic Bodies I
Thu, 1 December 2022, 7:30–9:30pm
Whitechapel Gallery, London
By its very nature, the art of street dance rejects definition. Constantly evolving and fusing influences from various geographies, street dance represents a continuous migration across histories, a journey between genres in search of endless composite configurations and a fine blend of collectivity and individuality.
Inspired by street dance, Whitechapel Gallery hosts an evening of performances centered around the notion of fluidity. Exploring street dance as an embodiment of the identity in flux, this takeover brings together artists from disparate backgrounds who seamlessly blend sonic and dance styles, including Algo Au, Chandenie Gobardhan, Chris Zhongtian Yuan, Duane Nasis, and Jamal Sterrett. In a series of seamless performances, each flowing into the next, these performers will activate the public spaces in and around Whitechapel Gallery, guiding the audience on a metamorphic journey.
Performance begins at 7.30 and will last roughly 50 minutes, followed by live beats by Ifeoluwa, who be weaving threads among global diasporas and highlighting the connections and histories throughout contemporary sounds.
Derek Tumala, A Pinch in Time, 2021. Image courtesy the artist.
Polyphonic Bodies II
A communal tasting celebrating biodiversity and fermentation, movement and fluidity.
Sat, 10 Dec 2022, 2-5pm
(3 slots: 2-3pm, 3-4pm, 4-5pm)
Asymmetry HQ, 102a Albion Drive, London, E8 4LY
Curated by Delfina Foundation resident L. Sasha Gora and Curatorial Fellow Erin Li in collaboration with chef Songsoo Kim.
Playing with forms of hospitality and co-existence, this communal tasting aims to nurture a curious yet welcoming social situation that breaks down the boundaries and conventions of the collective meal, which is to say a script of courses, a hierarchy of seating, and a repertoire of flavours organised according to national allegiances.
Polyphonic Bodies II instead serves an edible landscape and invites visitors to graze, “forage”, and freely combine bites, the process of which catalyses connections and conversations related to biodiversity, cultural plurality, the climate crisis, and the generosity of the bacteria that choreographs good health and pleasure.
Please book a ticket to one of the hour-long sessions, starting at 14:00, 15:00, or 16:00.
This event is part of the Delfina Foundation’s 2022 Politics of Food public programme, in collaboration with Asymmetry Art Foundation.
Please note vegetarian and vegan options are available but are limited.
About the Chef
Name SongSoo Kim. Made up of two characters Song is like the English word, and Soo means Life to live with song. It’s all in a name, the song I sing with this body I occupy, I try and observe the things that move me. In the process of meeting myself and others, I have met food as a practice and medium and have been learning what taste is, bitterness, sensing, fermenting, movement, and being moved. In this play, I think of pleasures and desires. Through “tasting” together I’m learning what possibly “taste” could be.