ellipsis
The specific context for the first presentation of this piece, on 24th June 2025 as part of the University of Birmingham's College of Arts and Law Research Festival, was fundamental in the shaping of the work. Given particular time constraints, the piece had to avoid triggering the university’s 'regulatory requirements'.
As is often the case, limitations became an opportunity to go beyond initial ideas and push creativity further. The piece was shaped through a generous and productive email exchange with Dr Thomas White, primarily between 4th and 5th June (see below), but which also extended beyond this initial contact, continuing to feed the work.
In the process, the piece exchanged its initially-proposed specificity for semantic openness. Rather than seeking to communicate a clear or singular message, it hopes to open up a meditative space that fosters the subjectivity and criticality of each audience member.
As is often the case, limitations became an opportunity to go beyond initial ideas and push creativity further. The piece was shaped through a generous and productive email exchange with Dr Thomas White, primarily between 4th and 5th June (see below), but which also extended beyond this initial contact, continuing to feed the work.
In the process, the piece exchanged its initially-proposed specificity for semantic openness. Rather than seeking to communicate a clear or singular message, it hopes to open up a meditative space that fosters the subjectivity and criticality of each audience member.
The piece opened with a text originally written by Dr White that Dr Pakula has rewritten and repurposed (see video below).
As well as featuring a visual ellipsis, the performance is soundtracked by a chamber accompaniment for Boccherini's 'Minuet' eliding the violin(s) that carry the well known main melody.
As well as featuring a visual ellipsis, the performance is soundtracked by a chamber accompaniment for Boccherini's 'Minuet' eliding the violin(s) that carry the well known main melody.
Photographic documentation by Victoria Beddoes.
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Photographic documentation by Victoria Beddoes.
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Photographic documentation by T. White and C. Radcliffe.
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ellipsis afterlife
a post-mortem album
(LISTEN HERE)
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