Belén L.Yáñez on Ellipsis

Belén L.Yáñez presents her touring project Ellipsis which is being programmed in Plymouth and Swindon as part of our Platforma festival 2023. In this guest article Belén talks us through the project – how it began, the process and learnings. Ellipsis is presented as a walking tour using audio in an immersive way, designed for local people to look more closely around everyday urban spaces.

My artistic practice is defined by a constant travelling and exploration. It is an ongoing, living project that engages in a continuous dialogue with fellow human beings. It remains an unfinished work in progress, constantly evolving through its interactions with people and places.

I have conceived a series of participatory performances, inspired by the human experience and aimed at challenging and exploring the constraints imposed by social and political conventions. This series is known as The Inhabited Compositions.

Among these compositions, Ellipsis, the second instalment, takes the form of an immersive audio experience. It is presented as a walking tour in urban spaces, inviting participants to rediscover and engage with the creative energy inherent in these places.

My journey with this project began in 2019 in Woolwich, located in southeast London. Since then, I have presented the first performance in Deptford, and subsequently, in Stonehouse, Plymouth, as well as various other locations in England. In each of these areas, we aim to put the high street on the map and to celebrate them as vibrant hubs where creativity is interwoven into the very essence of the community.

Accompanied by the two composers and musicians, Mike de Lis and Piti Varela, our exploration of Plymouth started in May 2023. This marked our initial adventure into the area to explore its rich cultural tapestry and engage with the local community. Thanks to the invaluable support of Counterpoints, we established connections with local organisations such as Devon and Cornwall Refugee Service and the Arts University of Plymouth. This collaborative effort resulted in the development of a series of workshops and interviews that brought together a diverse group of community representatives.

In our initial exploration everything pointed us to Union Street in Stonehouse area. Union Street has been an important part of Plymouth’s social and cultural scene and for us it was an inspiring place, the starting point for our tour in Stonehouse.

After a month working on all the materials we collected in Stonehouse, we were back in our studios in London to compose and design the walking tour that was presented  on the 6th and 7th of October in Stonehouse as part of Platforma Festival.

Within the realm of Ellipsis, participants assumed the role of tourists in their own town. Each tour was a unique experience, marked by new conversations, fresh stories, and novel sources of inspiration. Every visitor brought their perspective to Stonehouse, transforming it into an inspiring and ever-evolving place.

Ellipsis makes the everyday seem extraordinary and the extraordinary seem everyday, creating an experience that defies simple characterisation. Dreaming in Stonehouse was an experience that allowed us to connect even more with the place.

Over the course of two days, we had the opportunity to share our fresh perception of Stonehouse with the locals. They engaged in the tour and participated, adding more texture to the experience. At times, the role of the tour guide was taken on by one of the participants, and I, in turn, became a listener as the locals shared stories of their place.

The participants were open to share with us, creating a magical tour each time. They left positive feedback such as: ‘I really loved how people from the area wanted to stop to chat and tell us about the area,’ or, ‘The key word for me was imagination, and the wonderful blend with the past gave us a different perspective,’ and ‘I enjoyed every single part of this tour;  it took me to another world.”

Ellipsis has been a remarkable journey of exploration, creativity, and community engagement. It has shown us the transformative power of art and imagination in reimagining and celebrating the places we call home.

Ellipsis will also be presented in Swindon from 20-21 October.

UPDATE: Read more about Ellipsis on Belén’s blog