Playing Life

An Opportunity to Discover the Meaning of Everything

9 and 10 April 2005

Playing Life took place at Elastic residence on the 9 and 10 April 2005 and was the inspiration of artist, curator and co-director of Elastic residence, Joanna Callaghan. It was organised and curated by Joanna Callaghan and Niki Russell.

The artists involved included:

Katiushka Borges

Katiushka Borges aka Mama Songa-Lovecoach- is an interactive sensory artist who has explored love, eroticism and relationships through different media:paintings, drawings, publications, video, live art performance, radio and new media. She has exhibited her work in UK, Venezuela, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Canada, Finland, Germany and Estonia. Her installation work 'Lovers like us' is a playground that creates a space for intimacy and fun, where people can play and interact with different areas, such as The Interactive Bed, The way I see you, The Confessional of Love and the CD-ROM game 'Erotic Shortcuts'. The artist performs as Mama Songa, a Reality TV game show presenter with a video cameraMama Songa is a character that was created for the Radio Show 'Midnight Seductress' in 1995, and developed more fully, until she became a Certified NLP Coach in 2003. Since then, nothing stops Mama Songa from creating more art experiences that could improve the audience‚s love life while they have fun. Her latest publication is 'How to become a tastier lover' (in 6 weeks and a foreplay), soon to be released as a course online. http://loverslikeus.com/

Joanna Callaghan

Joanna Callaghan is an artist and curator based in London. Her practice concerns the relation between perception, cognition and representation which she explores through narrative based film, video, performance and installation. Her films and video have shown nationally and internationally in galleries, festivals and events. She is currently co-director of Elastic residence, has initiated The Transcendental Club a monthly salon of discussions with Deej Fabyc and is currently curating a series of video and film screenings for national and international touring.

Deej Fabyc

Deej Fabyc works with performance, installation, photography and video. Her work has for many years addressed the psychological dimensions of the personal and political experience of trauma. A sense or ambivalence and ‘schlock horror’ permeates her oeuvre.Recent significant performances include And She Watched, Trace Installation Artspace, Cardiff, 2005 and Kingsgate Gallery, London 2004; and in Don't Call it Performance, Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid and Centro Parraga, Murcia, Spain, 2003. Her work has been shown internationally both in museums and artist-run spaces for the past 15 years.

Phil Henderson

Serena Korda

Serena Korda born 14th May 1979 in Wembley London. Serena studied Fine Art at Middlesex University. On graduating in 2001 she was awarded a First Base studio from ACAVA. She has exhibited sculpture and performance in the U.K. Recent and forthcoming exhibitions include “TEA” The Happy Sailor, “I can see my way home” SpaceX, “Old Mens Flesh” Bow Festival 2004, “Love, Honour and Obey” The Crown Gallery, “thumbyhencile” at The Crown Gallery, “Precursor” at the Century Gallery, “Box 3” The World Rose Convention 2003, “Johnstone and Korda : a thoroughly modern misconstrude.” East End Collaborations, ‘Tomfoolery’ Cardiff Art in Tπime. In 2001 she completed a commission ‘Cockerels and Chrysanthemums’ for curator of M.O.D.A Leslie Hoskins. She has collaborated with Ian Johnstone to produce performance installations such as, ‘Hedging Bets in the perpetual paddock of inequinable proportions’, ‘Johnstone and Korda: a thoroughly modern misconstrude’, ‘Syncope I’ & ‘Syncope II’. After completing this commission there was a brief hiatus in Serena’s practice. As a teacher, she runs workshops at The Camden Arts Centre, The Islington Arts Factory, The Fashion and Textiles Museum and Hounslow CIP. Serena has worked with sex offenders in Wandsworth Prison and with women in the mother and baby unit of Holloway Prison.

Anja Laumann

Calum F Kerr

Daniel Oliver

Niki Russell

Having been involved in Playing Life from the outset, Niki took early retirement when his own techniques became somewhat passé in relation to the next generation of Playing Life facilitators. He however retained the honorary title of Chairman, allowing him to continue to move people around. Niki now partakes in various hobbies to pass the time, including working with the Reactor collective http://www.reactorweb.com

Dan Williamson

more information coming soon!

left to right

Anja Laumann, Kat Borges, Dan Williamson, Serena Korda

Daniel Oliver, Phil Henderson, Joanna Callaghan

Deej Fabyc

more images here

Playing Life

An Opportunity to Discover the Meaning of Everything

Playing Life is a unique experience taking place on the 9th and 10th April from 3pm to 8pm at Elastic Residence, London.

What distinguishes Playing Life from other programmes is the easy-going, relaxed feel of the proceedings - that, and its astonishing success rate. Each of us has our own comfort level in taking risks but allowing ourselves to enter unfamiliar territory, stepping into ambiguity and exploring the unknown, can teach us valuable lessons.

If you've been asking yourself questions like, "How can I live a more meaningful life?" this may be the time for you to start a journey of self-discovery. If you aren't quite sure what your purpose is and want help defining it, you may want to consider coaching to accelerate the process.

Playing Life facilitators bring 20+ years of experience, insight, passion, and care to their work. Trust the programme and remember this process works best through sharing this opportunity with others. Facilitators include Chairman Emeritus N Russell, Dr J M Callaghan, Mr D Williamson, Mrs K Borges & Mama Songa, Ms D Fabyc, Miss S Korda, Mr C F Kerr and Mr D Oliver.

This opportunity is free, but due to high levels of demand booking is essential. To reserve your place at a time that suits you email events@elastic.org.uk with your name, contact telephone, number of places (limit 2 per person) and preferred time (between 3 and 8pm on Saturday 9th or Sunday 10th April).

Playing Life is about living on purpose, achieving your dreams and playing BIG.

So come on, get with the programme!

We extend our most deepest thanks to our patrons Deej Fabyc and Simeon Nelson for allowing us to present this event in their grade 2 listed Georgian home- Elastic Residence.


Events

Playing Life An Opportunity to Discover the Meaning of Everything 9 and 10 April 2005 Playing Life took place at Elastic residence on the 9 and 10 April 2005 and was the inspiration of artist, curator and co-director of Elastic residence, Joanna Callaghan. It was organised and curated by Joanna Callaghan and Niki Russell. The artists involved included: Katiushka Borges Katiushka Borges aka Mama Songa-Lovecoach- is an interactive sensory artist who has explored love, eroticism and relationships through different media:paintings, drawings, publications, video, live art performance, radio and new media. She has exhibited her work in UK, Venezuela, Brazil, Spain, Italy, Canada, Finland, Germany and Estonia. Her installation work 'Lovers like us' is a playground that creates a space for intimacy and fun, where people can play and interact with different areas, such as The Interactive Bed, The way I see you, The Confessional of Love and the CD-ROM game 'Erotic Shortcuts'. The artist performs as Mama Songa, a Reality TV game show presenter with a video cameraMama Songa is a character that was created for the Radio Show 'Midnight Seductress' in 1995, and developed more fully, until she became a Certified NLP Coach in 2003. Since then, nothing stops Mama Songa from creating more art experiences that could improve the audience‚s love life while they have fun. Her latest publication is 'How to become a tastier lover' (in 6 weeks and a foreplay), soon to be released as a course online. http://loverslikeus.com/ Joanna Callaghan Joanna Callaghan is an artist and curator based in London. Her practice concerns the relation between perception, cognition and representation which she explores through narrative based film, video, performance and installation. Her films and video have shown nationally and internationally in galleries, festivals and events. She is currently co-director of Elastic residence, has initiated The Transcendental Club a monthly salon of discussions with Deej Fabyc and is currently curating a series of video and film screenings for national and international touring. Deej Fabyc Deej Fabyc works with performance, installation, photography and video. Her work has for many years addressed the psychological dimensions of the personal and political experience of trauma. A sense or ambivalence and ‘schlock horror’ permeates her oeuvre.Recent significant performances include And She Watched, Trace Installation Artspace, Cardiff, 2005 and Kingsgate Gallery, London 2004; and in Don't Call it Performance, Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid and Centro Parraga, Murcia, Spain, 2003. Her work has been shown internationally both in museums and artist-run spaces for the past 15 years. Phil Henderson Serena Korda Serena Korda born 14th May 1979 in Wembley London. Serena studied Fine Art at Middlesex University. On graduating in 2001 she was awarded a First Base studio from ACAVA. She has exhibited sculpture and performance in the U.K. Recent and forthcoming exhibitions include “TEA” The Happy Sailor, “I can see my way home” SpaceX, “Old Mens Flesh” Bow Festival 2004, “Love, Honour and Obey” The Crown Gallery, “thumbyhencile” at The Crown Gallery, “Precursor” at the Century Gallery, “Box 3” The World Rose Convention 2003, “Johnstone and Korda : a thoroughly modern misconstrude.” East End Collaborations, ‘Tomfoolery’ Cardiff Art in Tπime. In 2001 she completed a commission ‘Cockerels and Chrysanthemums’ for curator of M.O.D.A Leslie Hoskins. She has collaborated with Ian Johnstone to produce performance installations such as, ‘Hedging Bets in the perpetual paddock of inequinable proportions’, ‘Johnstone and Korda: a thoroughly modern misconstrude’, ‘Syncope I’ & ‘Syncope II’. After completing this commission there was a brief hiatus in Serena’s practice. As a teacher, she runs workshops at The Camden Arts Centre, The Islington Arts Factory, The Fashion and Textiles Museum and Hounslow CIP. Serena has worked with sex offenders in Wandsworth Prison and with women in the mother and baby unit of Holloway Prison. Anja Laumann Calum F Kerr Daniel Oliver Niki Russell Having been involved in Playing Life from the outset, Niki took early retirement when his own techniques became somewhat passé in relation to the next generation of Playing Life facilitators. He however retained the honorary title of Chairman, allowing him to continue to move people around. Niki now partakes in various hobbies to pass the time, including working with the Reactor collective http://www.reactorweb.com Dan Williamson more information coming soon! left to right Anja Laumann, Kat Borges, Dan Williamson, Serena Korda Daniel Oliver, Phil Henderson, Joanna Callaghan Deej Fabyc more images here Playing Life An Opportunity to Discover the Meaning of Everything Playing Life is a unique experience taking place on the 9th and 10th April from 3pm to 8pm at Elastic Residence, London. What distinguishes Playing Life from other programmes is the easy-going, relaxed feel of the proceedings - that, and its astonishing success rate. Each of us has our own comfort level in taking risks but allowing ourselves to enter unfamiliar territory, stepping into ambiguity and exploring the unknown, can teach us valuable lessons. If you've been asking yourself questions like, "How can I live a more meaningful life?" this may be the time for you to start a journey of self-discovery. If you aren't quite sure what your purpose is and want help defining it, you may want to consider coaching to accelerate the process. Playing Life facilitators bring 20+ years of experience, insight, passion, and care to their work. Trust the programme and remember this process works best through sharing this opportunity with others. Facilitators include Chairman Emeritus N Russell, Dr J M Callaghan, Mr D Williamson, Mrs K Borges & Mama Songa, Ms D Fabyc, Miss S Korda, Mr C F Kerr and Mr D Oliver. This opportunity is free, but due to high levels of demand booking is essential. To reserve your place at a time that suits you email events@elastic.org.uk with your name, contact telephone, number of places (limit 2 per person) and preferred time (between 3 and 8pm on Saturday 9th or Sunday 10th April). Playing Life is about living on purpose, achieving your dreams and playing BIG. So come on, get with the programme! We extend our most deepest thanks to our patrons Deej Fabyc and Simeon Nelson for allowing us to present this event in their grade 2 listed Georgian home- Elastic Residence.