WORDS FOR THE LIVING, 2021
Live Performance | Beth Derbyshire | WERK
Words for the Living is a live performance in which an individual speaker, communicates a series of words and phrases through a megaphone in public space. The words are commemorative excerpts by loved ones for so many of the key workers who have tragically passed away from Covid 19. The poignant and celebratory recital of words is a living memorial, describing the qualities of these incredible people who lost their lives whilst saving others and is intended to pay homage to loss, whilst inspiring the living through their bravery. The performance will be filmed and presented in the digital space of Into the Parade.
Into the Parade is an online web encounter and live project that explores how arts organisation and practitioners across the Midlands are engaging civically. The digital ‘Civic Centre’ is both tangible and metaphorical concept to explore the role of cultural practice in a civic context. Into the Parade is a cultural intervention that undertakes projects that have online and real-world anchors points and has been initiated by Beth Derbyshire and developed with students from the MA Arts and Project Management course at Birmingham City University.
BETH DERBYSHIRE
GOD THE QUEEN, I WANT TO BE FREE, 2003
Exhibted at:
Peterborough Museum, 2003 Sharjah Biennale, United Arab Emirates, 2003
Brussels Art Fair, 2004, selected special porjects
Two anthems are performed by deaf choirs, who sing
using sign language. On one side the choir’s favorite song is shown: I WANT TO BE FREE. This song addresses the themes of freedom of speech and societal discrimination and so voices the deep-felt concerns of this silent group, whose way of communicating, sign language is not recognised as an official language in the UK . On the other screen, the National Anthem is performed by the choir. The groups both listen and watch each other perform and then reply with their respec-tive song. At the end of each performance the choir turns to look at the viewer The work stages an ironic contrast between the national anthem which glorifies the emblematic head of the nation and their own favourite song which expresses their feelings of repression by the state. In the video projection there is no written translation of the songs and the only sound one can discern is some quiet singing from a few members of the group.
The hearing viewer is therefore required to undergo this experience in near silence like those who are deaf. At some remove, the texts of both lyrics are written on the wall. On the screen, the singers are surrounded by black so emphasising the visual language expressed in their arms and faces. Language facilitates the creation of a collective identity, those individuals who are excluded from the collective use of language and in turn are discriminated against are in position to simultaneously celebrate their identity as well as highlight their social partition.
Press links:
https://universes.art/en/sharjah-biennial/2003/artists
https://artmap.com/sharjahbiennial/exhibition/sharjah-biennial-2003-2003