I M M A – IMMA What’s On October 2022
The Wernicke’s Area
A new project by ANU
The Project Spaces
08 Oct – 06 Nov 2022
IMMA is proud to present ANU’s The Wernicke’s Area, the result of a year-long IMMA residency. A highly personal project for the company, the work responds to the medical condition of Debbie Boss, the wife of ANU’s co-artistic director and visual artist Owen Boss.
In 2014 Debbie had surgery to remove a previously undiagnosed brain tumour that grew in the Wernicke’s Area of her brain. Although the surgery was deemed successful, due to complications Debbie’s everyday life has been affected by epilepsy. When Debbie suffers a seizure the symptoms manifest as audio hallucinations and aphasia (a loss of comprehension of both heard and spoken words). A trained soprano, Debbie can no longer remember the lyrics to even the simplest of songs.
Research for the project has seen key partnerships evolve across the science and arts community. Boss worked with neurophysiologist Prof. Mark Cunningham of Trinity College, Dublin and their research has shaped the artwork
As part of the project ANU will present four live performances on the opening weekend, on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 Oct at 12pm and 4pm. A new music composition by Emily Howard, Director of PRiSM, Centre for Practice & Research in Science & Music, will be performed live by mezzo-soprano Rosie Middleton and viola player Stephen Upshaw. No booking is required and all are welcome.
UPCOMING EVENTS THIS OCTOBER
Black History Month 2022
Wed 5 Oct / 1 – 4pm
Join the activities and launch of Black History Month 2022, an annual celebration of the history, lives and culture of the African diaspora. This event is organised by the Institute Of Antiracism and Black Studies, in collaboration with I am Irish, UNPAD, Black Social Workers Ireland and Black and Irish. The event includes storytelling, discussions, spoken word and dance. All welcome, booking required.
Earth Rising Eco Art Festival
Fri 21, Sat 22 & Sun 23 Oct / Free
Earth Rising is an Eco Art Festival celebrating people, place and planet taking place across the IMMA Campus. Presenting over 70 contributors, artist commissions, talks, workshops, Seed STUDIO, and showcasing a stunning built to disappear eco pavilion, alongside an eclectic live music line-up and food stalls, this promises to be an engaging and enjoyable day out for everyone. Free, booking required.
IMMA Talks
Xenogenesis & Octavia Butler
Wed 26 Oct / 6.30pm / Onsite
In this talk Dr. John Wilkins will introduce the work of the American science fiction writer Octavia Butler. The talk explores the connections between Butler’s trilogy of novels Xenogenesis and The Otolith Group’s visual and auditory art, to uncover links to essentialism, anti-essentialism, and hope. Free, booking required.
IMMA Past Futures Podcast
IMMA PAST FUTURES is a new heritage podcast series exploring the IMMA/RHK site supported by the Heritage Council Heritage Stewardship Fund 2022. The podcast series interviews specialists and artists that have developed artworks in response to the site heritage. Each episode delves into a wide range of heritage phenomena related to the site. Episode 3 will be available on Sunday 9 October.
