2-4 October 2009, open 11am-7pm admission and all events free
An exhibition, live event, symposia and family day at
A Foundation London
Rochelle School
Arnold Circus, London, E2 7ES
www.artscatalyst.org for details and booking
This event was also in Manchester in March, see more about that by clicking here.
How do humans and animals relate to each other? In The Arts Catalysts’ Interspecies exhibition and event, seven international artists have created a range of work that explores this complex relationship. From live experiments that allow visitors to communicate with fish to a video work that explores the age-old affiliation between falconer and falcon, Interspecies brings together a number of artists working with animals and explores the boundaries of our interaction. Curious about the animal’s point of view, the artists challenge the dominant human viewpoint and aim to work in collaboration with other species.
The family day on Sunday 4 October will give families a chance to see artists in contact with real animals – like performance artist Kira O’Reilly who will be Falling asleep with a pig, called Deliah, and Antony Hall whose Enki Experiment 4 invites visitors to communicate with an electric fish.  During the afternoon, parents and children can take part in a series of free events.
Interspecies is organised by The Arts Catalyst in partnership with A Foundation.
The Arts Catalyst commissions artists and curates exhibitions which explore contested issues in science and society www.artscatalyst.org
Events
Friday 2 October
6pm, Exhibition tour with curator Rob La Frenais
7–9pm, Symposium: Non-Human Primates with Patrick Munck, collaborator with Nicolas Primat, Rachel Mayeri and Sarah Jane Vick, primatologist. Limited spaces, please book online.
Saturday 3 October
1-3pm and 3.30-5.30pm, Primate Cinema: How To Act Like An Animal. Two workshops with Rachel Mayeri for over 16s exploring the social dynamics of non-human primates through performance.  Limited spaces, please book online.
2pm, Tour of ENKI experiment 4 with Antony Hall
3–6pm, Symposium: Animals, Humans and Power (BSL interpreted) with Antennae editor Giovanni Aloi, Photographer Karen Knorr, Helen Macdonald, writer of Falcon, Ruth Maclennan and Snæbjörnsdóttir/Wilson. Limited spaces, please book online.
6pm, How to Act Like An Animal performance
Family Day – Sunday 4 October
2–4pm Becoming Bowerbirds. These intriguing birds show unusual creativity – they construct bowers which they decorate with found objects to attract females. Children and parents are invited to be a Bowerbird for the afternoon with artist Sally Hampson.  Advanced booking advisable at www.artscatalyst.org (Children 5yrs or under need to be accompanied)
2pm, 3pm and 4pm, Interspecies Tales by poet and storyteller Shamim Azad.  Shamim’s work uses aspects of the Asian folk and oral traditions, enlivening traditional stories with chant and body movement, poems, percussion instruments, tabla and songs.
4.30pm, Animal Handler’s Tales, broadcaster and trainer of the owls used in the first Harry Potter movie, James Mackay talks about his work as ‘The Animal Man’ with exhibition curator Rob La Frenais.
Admission free to all events. Accompanied children and families welcome. Unfortunately, dogs cannot be permitted.
Physical access to some parts of the exhibition and events is limited; please contact admin@artscatalyst.org for further information
For images and more details, please contact Jo Fells, 07977 226187, jo.fells@artscatalyst.org