Research · 2017 - 2019

Darkness

Research.

Over several years, Saffy collaborated with dance artist Joanna Young on research exploring our relationship with darkness. This manifested in a few key moments.

LEAD ARTIST

Saffy Setohy

COLLABORATOR

Joanna Young

PROJECT 01

A one-to-one guided movement journey, exploring our sensory experience of darkness.

Forefronting senses other than vision, we explored a number of invitations and suggestions which gave attention to the specific and special experience of moving into the night.

Leaning into Darkness

2017


CONTEXT

Part of Sanctuary Lab,
Galloway Forest Dark Skies Park

A READING


To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.

To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,

and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,

and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.

Wendell Berry  ·  To Know the Dark

PROJECT 02

Dark Matters

A series of participatory encounters exploring darkness, developed during a residency with Dansarena Nord and Dansefestival Barents in Hammerfest, Norway.

Activities took place:


on the beach

building sculptures with the local nursery school


in the library

conversation, movement, drawing and tracing-paper art


in the artist’s house

food, conversation, and a candlelit performance meditation at sunset

2019


CONTEXT

Residency with Dansarena Nord
and Dansefestival Barents,
Hammerfest, Norway

CREDITS

PHOTOS BY


Iain Payne & Joanna Young