“All in Which You Live” is a participative performance and magickal ritual for marking the bridge between past and future by connecting with our ancestors.
By asking the question “What Kind of Ancestor Do You Want to Be?”, we invite members of the public to effect change in reality by creating a powerful space for the setting of intention, channelling of energy and transmutation of emotion.
Participants are called to intuitively and deeply connect with their ancestor lineage - biological, emotional, cultural, intellectual, spiritual - while looking to the future through their aspiration / vision for change. Similarly, we invite participants to reflect what kind of ancestor do they want to be not only for their bloodline (if that’s even the case), but to our fellow humans, to future generations who will inherit this Earth.
In making offerings to ancestors, we are acknowledging all that came before us, including plants, trees, four-legged animals, winged ones, and those that live in water. We are being led to an alignment with the unseen. We acknowledge and soften intergenerational trauma, and we also find our shared roots (pedigree collapse / implex, mitochondrial eve / mt-MRCA).
What to expect:
The activity will consist of a participatory performance & ritual with participation of members of the public and guided by the artist.
Participants will be invited to take part in an introspective and meditative activity which hopes to create a moment of deep focus and connection with the past, while also concentrating on their intention for the future through the use of repetitive movements and the use of highly symbolic materials, such as:
- Rice grains: a grain that holds a special place in traditions of many cultures worldwide, the sacred symbolism of rice is deeply rooted in the themes of fertility, prosperity, and sustenance. It is often used as an offering on altars, shrines and rituals to honour and connect with ancestors, show gratitude and seek protection from the spirits
- Mirrors: allowing participants to see themselves as the connecting link between past and future
- Milk: metaphysically, milk represents the essence of life and the sustenance of the physical and spiritual body in many different cultures. It also symbolises purity and the cleansing of impurities. In some belief systems, milk is believed to have sacred and healing properties, and is used in rituals and ceremonies to purify and bless individuals
- Light & Sound
- Time: This activity will be long durational, and the time dedicated to this can also be perceived as an offering towards the ancestors and intentions - such giving of one’s time is symbolic of the actual sacrifices historically found in many spiritual and religious traditions
- Audience: The non-participating audience is welcome to watch the performance for part or the entirety of the duration from within the Chapel space, as well as follow the procession. Audience members will be invited to also meditate on their own ancestors and intentions for the future while witnessing the performance
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
BOOKING NOT ESSENTIAL - you can turn up on the day; however, if you want to take part in the ritual we recommend booking your ticket. Viewers can decide to participate if capacity allows
Age recommendation: 18+.
Location: the event will be held in the Nunhead Cemetery Chapel to which there is no step-free access.
No particular expertise required, but this will be a physically challenging activity involving sitting on the ground for a long period of time which may not be suitable for all.
ABOUT THE EVENT FACILITATOR
White SOL is focused on creating art with consciousness-expanding and magical undertones. As well as magnetised art objects and visual art, it creates social and participatory experiences both large-scale and small that promote deep moments of awareness and connection.
It is interested in exploring the limits of sensory manipulation and ritualistic patterns to elicit profound psycho-spiritual experiences in audiences.
WSS work is also strongly inspired by nature and the energetic synergy between human and non-human agents, often working in site specific contexts. Projects include installations, performances, video art, workshops and immersive sessions.
ABOUT THE EVENTS SERIES
This open performance is part of a lineup of events by artists, writers, dancers, and performers to complement Luisa-Maria MacCormack's solo exhibition ‘Only Eternity Lasts Forever’. The solo exhibition is part of the Summer series from the FLP x Friends of Nunhead Cemetery Curatorial Program, that reimagines the historic chapel at Nunhead Cemetery as a site of speculative archaeology, exploring the intersections of time, place, ritual and ecology.
'Only Eternity Lasts Forever'
Private View: Thursday 12th September 2024 16:00 - 20:00
Opening Hours: Wednesday 11th - Sunday 15th September 2024 12:00 - 18:00
Location: Nunhead Cemetery Chapel
EVENTS:
In the spirit of ‘Only Eternity Lasts Forever’, the exhibition space will serve as a blank canvas for a diverse lineup of artists, writers, dancers, and performers. Over the course of the show, these contributors will use the chapel to host installations, workshops, and events that explore the peculiar and varied ways humans interact with sacred places. Each event is a unique extension of the exhibition’s theme, further blurring the lines between art, ritual, and space.
For a full list of events and ticket information, please visit https://feministlectureprogram.com/curatorial-program