Professional Development
In August 2017, we had the privilege, funded by an a-n professional development bursary, to spend a week at Philip’s studio at Wysing Arts Centre to try to gain a deeper understanding of how we function as an ‘institution’/collaborative group.
Initially, we commissioned an astrological chart based on LOTUSLAND’s date, time, and place of origin from artist/illustrator/astrologer Rae Lahn. This was one of the most useful tools of the developmental period. It enabled us to compare our perception of LOTUSLAND with its astrological aspects, which in time began to widen and deepen our understanding of the project. When we began filming and creating LOTUSLAND THE MUSICAL, we also used excerpts of the text from the projects profile were used as script within the film and the digital video stills posted throughout this blog. Part visual manifesto, part motivational, part self-help, part-zine; these phrases from the astrological reading put into context how our project views itself, works with others and its ideal location.
We began our focused week of development with artist, Lucy Steggals, of the Saturday Museum, where we came to the decision that LOTUSLAND’s (professional) development comes through our collaborative production, where further production decisions are also guided by the space – the place – not particularly the institution, but the actual place itself. Our discussions continued to uncover that LOTUSLAND wants to be seen while it creates, where visibility is an act of sharing; an act of bringing people together to build an ethereal, momentary community, much like the Saturday Museum.
Also through our discussion, the more we tried to pin down a static critical framework of operation, the less the project worked, made sense to us, or inspired us. LOTUSLAND is very much rooted in intuitive action versus thoughtful reflection. The queerness it embraces enables this disregard for introspection. We also confronted the question of what does it mean to ‘professionally develop’ a project that actively pushes away the neoliberal, corporate-obsessed ’Professional’.
So after the first two days guided by discussions with Lucy, and creating an initial video tackling what ‘Professional development’ means to LOTUSLAND, we decided to re-stage past LOTUSLAND video work within the rural setting. Giving us a mode of production congruent to LOTUSLAND’s values that enabled reflection and intuitive action.
