Michael Hornblow

“Closer Distancing” (5 mins) – Teaser

Closer Distancing

Connections through Culture, 2021-2022

2021 – Asiatopia House (Nan, Thailand) / Belfast, N. Ireland;
2022 – Belfast International Festival of Performance Art (Belfast, N. Ireland) / Hansa Community Open Space (Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Artists:
Chumpon Apisuk (Thailand), Sutasinee Kansomdee (Thailand), Michael Hornblow (New Zealand / Thailand),
Padungsak Kochsomrong (Thailand), Sinéad O’Donnell (Belfast, N. Ireland)

“In performance art circles, traveling to perform in various festivals, organized by fellow artists, has been almost a traditional way of life. We travel 3-4 times a year, and in Europe artists travel even more. Performance art must be done in front of the audience, we all know that. Covid-19 changed all this… The term ‘social distancing’ has become almost sacred, like a new order of reality.” (Chumpon Apisuk)

Closer Distancing was a response to the question of how to continue practicing performance art during a pandemic. The project was supported by the British Council ‘Connections through Culture’ program, exploring possibilities of exchange between Thailand and the UK under the conditions imposed by Covid-19. The project began with a residency period in January-March 2021, taking place both on site and online between Belfast and Nan-Bangkok-Chiang Mai. The artists explored contrasts of climate, landscape, culture and politics, under different lockdown restrictions, culminating in a live-streamed performance event. A series of written reflections followed, and the following year an opportunity to present “Re-captured: Closer Distancing”, at BIFPA, the Belfast International Festival of Performance Art (with further support from Connections through Culture, British Council). This involved a live-streamed lecture and co-located performance workshop – in Belfast c/o the University of Atypical, and in Chiang Mai c/o Hansa Community Open Space. The short video teaser above had its inaugural screening, followed by a longer video shortly after with performance documentation and artist interviews (below).