POETIC MOVEMENT WITH CHLOE FILANI
Image of participants reflecting during the workshop
On a Sunday afternoon on 30 June, interdisciplinary artist, performer and writer - Chloe Filani - hosted a somatic movement workshop at Alice Billing House.
This event was part of her residency over 2 weeks in June and also part of Newham Heritage Month 2024.
The workshop was movement and poetic writing-focused, utilising methods of somatic breathwork and sound meditation, to explore themes surrounding Blackness, water, and queer identities and the intersection of location by honouring prominent queer voices that also have roots in Newham.
Participants were encouraged you to go on a journey of playful expression using the body as a vessel in collaboration with sound and written prompts resulting from the collaborative process during these sessions.
“Really grounding space and I deeply appreciate the journey I was taken on by the facilitator Chloe ”
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP, CHLOE SAID:
It was a slow beautiful day that allowed for us to have a good session, had the speaker of the floor with the sounds of sea waves from calm to crash, that made vibration through the floor that was felt by the participants, sending them into a breathing trance.
To the movement activity of our daily task or ritual to repeat with another person witnessing them writing what they see this was evoking my thoughts on this historical building that have housed many people and their past daily presences in the space.
To finally having a writing and sharing task of putting the ideas and process of the day. Such beautiful words of witnessing and clearly the feelings of everyone being present in their bodies and in this space.
ABOUT CHLOE FILINI
Chloe Filani is an interdisciplinary artist, performer and writer, her work frequently probes the broader themes surrounding her identities as a Black transwoman of Nigerian Yoruba and Eshan heritage within the context of navigating power structures.
The speculative art archive is led by artist and programme facilitator, Sandra Falase, part of a year-long engagement programme at Alice Billing House, supported by the Creative Land Trust and Heritage Lottery Fund.