News, analysis and comment - performing arts 

Finding The Moment

By Michael David Jones ArtsHub | Wednesday, April 09, 2008

  

Michael David Jones is in the running to be part of Birmingham's FIERCE festival with The Moment Before We Kiss, where he offers strangers the chance to savour him, the very moment before their first kiss. He tells Arts Hub about his work and his practice as an artist.

It is early evening, snow is falling. I am running through the streets of London in just my underwear and a cardigan; the cold raises goose pimples on my skin as flushes of hot blood pump through my body and flood my cheeks. Exhausted, I desperately look for him and; thank god, see him leaving a bookshop. I try to explain, desperate not to lose him. He kisses me. It is the most passionate, deeply satisfying, earth-shaking kiss. Shocked to the core, I utter the words “Wait a minute? Nice boys don’t kiss like that” he envelopes me in his long black coat and looks deep into my eyes. His voice a low growl, he responds; “Oh yes they fucking do”.

Summer 2007, I began the process of applying for an MA Fine Art. Part of the application process was to consider the area of research and resulting work I would make during the course. I proposed to find out what it means to be ‘In the Moment’ with a focus on romance on the screen juxtaposed with my experience of romance; to explore small romantic gestures with complete strangers. I have found many moments along the way. I naïvely proclaimed that by the end of these explorations I would have a clearer idea of ‘Romance’, ‘The Moment‘, ‘Lust’ and ‘Love’. I wanted to know; can the moment be found with a stranger?

Live Art offers me space to explore moments of shared experience in a multitude of surprising ways. I meet people from all walks of life and can never know how an audience member will engage with me or my work. This means that every experience is as fresh for me as it is for them. I have to be open to all possibilities; which takes a certain kind of foolish bravery. This is both terrifying and electrifying.

In my latest work The Moment Before We Kiss (2008) I offer strangers the chance to savour with me the moment before the first kiss. In five-minute appointments, I meet with participants one-on-one; we introduce ourselves and discuss the moment. The culmination of this is the moment itself; we make eye contact and move our lips together to kiss. Before our lips touch, we both must stop and hold this moment, charged and full of potential.

Speaking on Channel Four documentary Artshock in 2006, artist Kira O’Reilly talks of the ‘real conversations’ that occur when participants in her work are considering cutting her skin. This type of spontaneous, real conversation is pivotal in building trust and intimacy in my work; there is something unpredictable and exciting about the meeting of minds that may occur. I try to create work that can be read bodily; physically, musically; guttural, instinctive. Building the trust required to find these intimate moments is an important part of the process.

Romance transcends the ideologies of ‘high’ culture. Romantic acts are as prevalent in classic literature as in Hollywood Cinema. Live Art Platform You and Your Work described my piece The Moment Before We Kiss (2008) as exploring “a fundamental human encounter (nearly every single person on this earth shares the first kiss experience)” The body is almost always written with experience; I see potential in the kiss. An instantaneous, bodily response; how can such a simple act be so monumental? Talking about the proposal for the piece at FIERCE, Terence McDermott from Birmingham’s art lounge speaks of kissing as “a globally accepted phenomenon (that) more or less means the same wherever you may go. There’s also the idea (that may or may not be true) that prostitutes might sell their bodies but kissing is off-limits, showing the depth of meaning in the act.”

In initiating this project I was unprepared for the extent of this depth, or how much a part of my everyday life the research would become. I am buzzing with possibilities, thoughts and ideas. Following my instincts is as much a part of the process as exploring theory. I want to know more about the moment and its connections with live art and performance; who is performing? I want to know about trust, intimacy and theatricality. I want to know about those pesky elephants; gender, sexuality.

I propose a toast; to finding the answers, to the beauty of finding the moment; to the meeting of minds and to fleeting moments of Romance. I raise my glass.


Editor's note: Jones is currently in the running to be part of Birmingham's FIERCE festival with The Moment Before We Kiss (2008) and is currently developing new work with Arnolfini Gallery Bristol. His work in progress Close To You (2008) will be shown as part of platform event ‘I am still your worst nightmare’ on April 26th/27th.

dogruff.net
myfiercefestival.co.uk

Michael David Jones

Michael David Jones is a Bristol based artist interest in Live Art, Performance and Immersive Installation. His previous work has explored Cathartic Acts, Nostalgia and Memory. Michael is undertaking an MA Fine Art at The University of The West of England, Bristol.

E: mrmdjones@gmail.com
You must be signed in to place comments.

Please sign in or Join ArtsHub to gain access

Related news

ADA relaunches as Audiences UK

ADA relaunches as Audiences UK

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 11 Mar 2010

On March 11th the national network of Audience Development Agencies re-launched as Audiences UK.

Texas and the North of England discuss punk

Texas and the North of England discuss punk

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 11 Mar 2010

The NorthernNet Connects Sound City project is delighted to announce the second in a series of ...

Carl Chase stars in Liverpool

Carl Chase stars in Liverpool

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 11 Mar 2010

Vauxy Theatre are delighted to announce that local actor Carl Chase, mainstay of stage and screen ...

Horrible Science tour for children

Horrible Science tour for children

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 11 Mar 2010

Science with all the squishy, disgusting & explosive bits left in – comes to the stage in High ...

George entertains all over the UK

George entertains all over the UK

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 11 Mar 2010

Instead of cute fluffy little chicks this Easter holiday BSC have Giant chickens running amok and ...

King Lear at the Courtyard Theatre

King Lear at the Courtyard Theatre

David Trennery (United Kingdom) 10 Mar 2010

There is no Hollywood ending in David Farr’s RSC Lear at the Courtyard theatre in Stratford-on-Avon.

Many new star additions to Ether

Many new star additions to Ether

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 9 Mar 2010

Superstar DJs Andrew Weatherall and Tom Middleton, To Rococo Rot, Tanya Tagaq and a second night ...

Arts and business symposium in Swansea

Arts and business symposium in Swansea

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 9 Mar 2010

How can the arts sector build and sustain income when faced with public spending cuts?

Catastrophe Trilogy by Lone Twin at the Barbican

Catastrophe Trilogy by Lone Twin at the Barbican

David Trennery (United Kingdom) 9 Mar 2010

Different rules apply to a conceptual three-parter like Lone Twin’s Catastrophe Trilogy, ...

New CEO at Chickenshed

New CEO at Chickenshed

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 5 Mar 2010

Chickenshed is delighted to announce the appointment of its new Chief Executive, Jane Paterson-Todd.

Spooky Tales opens soon at unitytheatre

Spooky Tales opens soon at unitytheatre

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 4 Mar 2010

After the sell out success of The Snow Queen at unitytheatre during Christmas 2009, creepy local ...

Spring Equinox spectacle in Coventry

Spring Equinox spectacle in Coventry

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 4 Mar 2010

200 people from Coventry have been involved in a spectacular new Arts project this Easter to ...

Laurence Olivier Awards streamed live on site

Laurence Olivier Awards streamed live on site

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 3 Mar 2010

The Laurence Olivier Awards are to be streamed live for the first time, in 2010.

Apples and Snakes new co-ordinator

Apples and Snakes new co-ordinator

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 3 Mar 2010

Apples and Snakes has appointed a performance poetry co-ordinator of the South-West of England.

SCO highlights to suit all tastes

SCO highlights to suit all tastes

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 3 Mar 2010

Beethoven, Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and Wagner make up some of the March highlights of the ...

South London's Forest Fest returns

South London's Forest Fest returns

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 3 Mar 2010

Following the hugely successful 2009 launch of Forest Fest, Forest Hill School (FHS) are pleased ...

Roman Chariot Track appeal on target

Roman Chariot Track appeal on target

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 3 Mar 2010

The Save Britain’s only Roman Chariot Racing Track Appeal has reached its £200k target.

Melanie C delights inBlood Brothers

Melanie C delights inBlood Brothers

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 24 Feb 2010

Following Melanie C’s Olivier-Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical, Blood Brothers last ...

Richard Thompson new director of Meltdown

Richard Thompson new director of Meltdown

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 24 Feb 2010

Richard Thompson has been appointed the artistic director of the Southbank Centre's Meltdown Festival

Hindustani classical music in Halifax

Hindustani classical music in Halifax

Arts Hub (United Kingdom) 23 Feb 2010

Aradhana bring Aakrisht, a celebration of Indian music and dance, to Square Chapel Centre in ...