July 02, 2013

AKLERIAH BACK IN RESIDENCE AT THE QUEEN'S HOUSE, ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH ON 21ST JULY TO PERFORM 'QUEDENRAHA' AND HOST DROP-IN CROCHET WORKSHOP ON 14TH JULY



After the great success of their spring performance for the opening of Alice Kettle's 'The Garden of England' exhibition, AKLERIAH are back in residence at THE QUEEN'S HOUSE.

When: 21st July
Performances times: 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm
Duration: aprox 30 minutes
Where: The Queen's House, Romney Rd, London, SE10 9NF 
Admission: Free
Nearest Station: Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich

Please see for details: http://www.rmg.co.uk/visit/events/akleriah-residence







The 30 second video trailer for the performance: youtube.com/watch?v=82OluIobPO0
Quedenraha cast. Photo by Jason Wen.

For their encore performance of 'Quedenraha', Akleriah bring together at the Queen's House an eclectic combination of dancers, musicians, singers and performers. Dressed  in custom-made costumes of extraordinary opulence, the performance reflects upon the two Queens of the House and their legacy on the world. Akleriah is an eco-friendly duo and their costumes incorporate the experimental use of traditional hand crafts and the upcycled waste (mostly plastic carrier bags) of contemporary consumer society. 

'Quedenraha' challenges the perception of the space as well as of the human body. 'Body' is often referred to in botanical terms and especially in relation to women. The clothes and make up of the female and male have influenced myths throughout history, body mobility, the cultural perception of masculinity and femininity and the power and social status of humans.

The performance play upon the history of the Queen's House and is inspired by the grandeur of the past, which echo on the geometric floor of the impeccable Great Hall. Likewise, the House's role as a lighthearted 'party home' - which hosted masquerades and plays - and its sombre reality is explored.

'QUEDENRAHA' WILL TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY THROUGH MOVEMENT, SOUND AND VISUAL EXTRAVAGANZA.

Quedenraha Cast:  click on the name of each artist for more info
 Music: Jasmine Scott Neale - cello (Lady in Waiting), Elo Masing - violin (King)
Opera Singers: Suzi MacGregor (Shaddow Queen), Henry Bennett (Queen)
Wise Man: Franck Alba
Water Spirits: Anna&Lenka 

Costumes and Make-up/hair: Anna Kompaniets
Performance Choreography: Lenka Horakova 
Dance Choreography: Treacle Holasz
 
 

  AKLERIAH host a drop-in workshop at THE QUEEN'S HOUSE  on 14th July from 11am - 4pm

Please see for details: http://www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/events/akleriah-crochet-workshop

AKLERIAH is hosting a drop-in workshop demonstrating how to crochet flowers out of plastic bags. Plastic carrier bags are polluting seas across the globe and are responsible for many sea creatures deaths. Let's reuse and upcycle them instead! The artists will be dressed as Regal House Spirits.

Suitable for beginners and advanced professionals alike, from ages 6-150. Akleriah will help anyone master the art of crochet flowers, taking a creative and ethical approach to crochet. For those wishing to take their art home, the participants will be able to stitch brooch backs to their creations and wear them. Others may wish to donate their flowers which will be used as part of costumes for the performance, Quedenraha, on 21st July at The Queen's House. 

 If you can, please bring along your used plastic bags for the workshop! All other materials will be provided. 

 
Image from Akleriah previous workshop at Knitting and Stitching Show 2013 at Olympia 

Akleriah look forwards to seeing you at The QUEEN'S HOUSE on 14th and 21st July!










June 26, 2013

Akleriah performs 'SCARSINERIAH' at Rossotrudnichestvo on 27 June, 7-9pm for the Private View of painter Anya Charikov-Mickleburgh's exhibition 'Eaters & Eaten'



Akleriah 'SCARSINERIAH' explore the notion of 'Empty Body', a body without the flesh, a body that consists of materialised emotions, desires and scars. 


Inspired by Anya Charikov-Mickleburgh's paintings, Akleriah question the consumption of the body and its contamination and tragedies. What is actually hidden beneath our outer facade, and when do we become full and our true self materialises? The performative installation can be experienced throughout the 2-hours Private View – the 'Second Skin' will then be shed and left at the exhibition space.



'Eaters & Eaten' is the first solo show by painter Anya Charikov-Mickleburgh.

The work is a psychoanalytical and critical exploration of Desire and the factors driving it from within: longing and obsession, needs and demands, appetite and taste, pleasure and disgust. Anya has extracted eating, a vital human activity, and projected it as a metaphor for all forms of consumption. "My idea highlights how the actual realisation of Desire does not consist of it being fulfilled". Her paintings in oil leave the audience with the assumption of how we as society inhabit the present, how we eat into culture, eat into commodities, eat into ourselves; while the question "what is eating us now?" remains open.
                                                                                      'Self-Eater' by Anya Charikov-Mickleburgh
 
The 'Scarsineriah' performance will be accompanied by a piano improvisation by Paris-based musician and SACEM member Nikolas Keriven.

'Scarsineriah' performance by:
Tony Burch

Liz Cook 
Anna Kompaniets
Lenka Horakova 

'Second Skin' by:
Anna Kompaniets & Anya Charikov-Mickleburgh
 

for more info see:
http://gbr.rs.gov.ru/en/taxonomy/term/9


Time:  Private View: 27 June 2013: 19.00 - 21.00 
Admission:  RSVP to meike@factor-m.co.uk
Where:Rossotrudnichestvo, 37 Kensington High Street, London W8 5ED
Nearest Station:High Street Kensington
Rossotrudnichestvo, is an autonomous department of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was set up in 2008 with the aim of developing relations between the UK and Russia.







May 15, 2013

PRESS RELEASE 'RE-IMAGINING LADIES TIGHTS' PROJECT

 


PRESS RELEASE 
 
RE-IMAGINING LADIES TIGHTS
CATFORD AND ACROSS LONDON BOROUGH OF LEWISHAM
GATHERINGS: age UK, Lewisham & Southwark,  
10 Catford Broadway, Catford, SE6 4SP
 
 
Collecting old tights and stockings, public washing, creating yarn while storytelling, a promenade photoshoot before producing something new, this project will re-imagine how women perceive these easily discarded garments. 
 
When women wear tights or stockings, how do they view themselves?  How does it make them feel and how are they perceived?  Do tights and stockings dictate how society is formed?
 
Russian women wear tights in Moscow as ‘it’s seen as trashy not to wear tights’ whereas in Gambia ‘some girls would wear fishnets - people would look at them badly thinking they are call girls’  When a Gambian woman meets a Russian woman in Catford, South London, how do they perceive each other?
 
Re-imagining Ladies Tights is a live conceptual art performance experience that examines the role of tights and stocking in our society.   Commissioned by Lewisham Council, with support from Arts Council England, art-duo Akleriah will be collecting broken tights and stockings from across the London Borough of Lewisham, supported by Platform-7, to ask why such easily disposable attire carries so much kudos.  
 
Part of Lewisham Council’s drive to encourage more textile recycling, this 6 week intervention in Catford will ask women to consider the wider issues and their relationship with tights and stockings.  It will examine the politics that surrounds an item that appears to be essential apparel and discuss how women use tights and stockings beyond a fashion accessory while men often distinguish alternative views.  
 
In series of female-only  gatherings at ‘age UK’s’ Catford Broadway shop, the performance experience will generate stories and thoughts on the attire that has shaped female body image for over four generations. By publically displaying these stories on the walls of the old Catford Civic Centre, the project looks to unveil how women distinguish themselves and how men identify with tights and stockings. 
 
The event begins with our collection from specially handmade recycled bags for recycling tights hanging in locations across Lewisham, including Lesoco (formally Lewisham College), Goldsmiths, age UK, Lewisham / Catford town centres. Full details on the blog and details on how to order a recycle bag for a specific location.  
 
A public wash performance will take place on 21st May in Catford Broadway before the tights are cut into yarn on 6th June to create something completely re-imagined.  Women over 18 from any background can become involved in this FREE unique explorative event and asked to donate an item to age UK to be sold in the shop or purchase an item to support the work of this important local charity.
 
For Akleriah, the event allows them to investigate “the image, gender politics, social and material value of women’s tights. By working with women volunteers in Catford and their personal tights’ stories, it is envisaged that a more significant social meaning, which discarded tights carry, and make their recycling problematic and challenging, will be addressed”.                  
 
 
Councillor Susan Wise, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, said: “This is a really interesting idea and I hope it will help women reflect on some of the many social expectations placed on them. Of course, there’s also a very practical element to this installation and performance. We want women to recycle their old tights and stockings by putting them in the textile bring banks across the borough.”
 
John McKiernan, founder of Platform-7 Events said: “The ethos and name of Platform-7 Events derives from London Bridge Railway station having 16 platforms yet no platform 7, few commuters notice this.  The company presents astute art interventions that engage people and encourages us to explore the significant in the everyday, the world that surrounds us and issues that impact our environment”
 
 
    
 
NOTES FOR EDITORS
 
Bags Location and Requests
Bags for re-cycling of tights can be requested by emailing :  re-imagining@mail.com 
Locations of tight collection points can be found here :  http://re-imaginingtights.tumblr.com/collection-points 
 
AKLERIAH
Akleriah was founded in 2009 by multi-media conceptual artists Anna Kompaniets and Lenka Horakova. Coming from Russian and Czech backgrounds their work is inspired by their heritage, folklore, philosophy, spiritualism and current environmental issues. Akleriah create a performative multi-dimensional art experience with collaborators from dance, music, theatre, film and other creative fields. Akleriah performances and workshops also act as a 'meeting place' to create a close knit community.  Akleriah have previously performed at Tate Britain, The Queen's House Royal Museums Greenwich, Turner Contemporary, Shunt Vaults among other public spaces, museums and galleries.
www.akleriah.com
 
PLATFORM-7 
Platform-7 is South London based micro events company that curates and facilitates abstract live art performance in public spaces.  Formed in 2009, the company has developed a number of highly successful interventions including a single event across multiple London Underground stations exploring war on Remembrance Sunday (2012), discussing the politics of the videocassette in a disused Blockbuster Videostore in Catford (2012), questioning the Turner Contemporary and regeneration policy in Margate (2011), and perception of conflict in various cemeteries at night (2009-2011).  
www.platform-7.com
 
age UK
10 Catford Broadway, Catford, SE6 4SP
age UK Lewisham and Southwark is a trusted local charity with over 30 years of experience of working to improve life for older people. We deliver services to support the most vulnerable, socially excluded and isolated older members of our community, delivering preventative solutions to negate the emotional, financial and physical challenges that many older people face.
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/lewishamandsouthwark/
 
 
Arts Council England
Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people's lives.  We support a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries - from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections.  Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. 
www.artscouncil.org.uk
 
 
How to get there: 
Catford is well served by public transport and has plenty parking
Train: Catford (2mins), Catford Bridge (2mins), Ladywell (12mins), Hither Green (12mins) and Lee (15mins) railway station (walking times)
Bus: 47 Catford Garage - Shoreditch via Lewisham
54 Elmers End - Woolwich via Blackheath
75 Croydon Town Centre - Lewisham via Penge
124 Eltham - Catford (St. Dunstans College) via Mottingham, Grove Park and Torridon Road
136 Grove Park - Peckham via Goldsmith's College
160 Catford Bridge Station - Sidcup via Eltham.
171 Catford Garage - Holborn Station via Brockley, Peckham and Waterloo
181 Grove Park - Lewisham via Downham
185 Lewisham - Victoria via Dulwich
199 Catford Garage - Canada Water/Surrey Quays via Greenwich
202 Crystal Palace - Blackheath Royal Standard via Catford
208 Lewisham - Orpington via Catford and Bromley
284 Lewisham - Grove Park via Crofton Park and Verdant Lane
320 Catford - Biggin Hill Valley via Bromley
336 Catford - Locks Bottom via Bromley
Car: Plenty Parking
 
 
Further media enquiries 
Contact John McKiernan 
johnm@platform-7.com
07808 808 704
 
Blog:  http://re-imaginingtights.tumblr.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReImaginingLadiesTights?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/reimaginetights
Further Event information:   http://www.platform-7.com/#!reimagining-ladies-tights/c1a8g 
 
Websites: 
www.akleriah.com
www.platform-7.com 
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/lewishamandsouthwark/
www.lewisham.gov.uk 

Dress made from used tights; Anna Kompaniets
 
 
                     

April 29, 2013

Akleriah/Platform-7 project 'Re-imagining Ladies Tights' supported by Arts Council England and London Borough of Lewisham


Akleriah are excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with Platform-7 on our new project 'Re-imagining Ladies Tights' which aims to raise awareness of textile recycling by exploring the politics of tights and stockings.  



Follow our special 'Re-imagining Ladies Tights' blog:)

TIGHTS DIARY DAY 10
Today I wore my new star print tights I bought from China on Ebay. The print is great, they made me feel very happy, surprisingly they are very good quality - no snags or ladders!http://re-imaginingtights.tumblr.com

Join our facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/ReImaginingLadiesTights



This opportunity allow us to explore the image, gender politics, social and material value of women’s tights. By working with women volunteer in Catford and their personal tights’ stories, it is envisaged that a more significant social meaning, which discarded tights carry, and make their recycling problematic and challenging, will be addressed.

The project is about conversation; we want your stories (and your used tights) to better understand how tights affect us, as women, how we wear them for our own purposes and how they may possibly culturally bind us.  By better understanding what tights mean to us we may become more aware of why we, as a population, waste so many with such little consideration.  Regardless of your background, we would love to hear how tights are part of your life – join us in Catford during May and June 2013. 

To take part in one of our tights transformation gatherings or to give us tights you no longer require, please contact us on re-imagining@mail.com
PLEASE NOTE: The gathering is open to women over the age of 18 only, to encourage openness, frankness and discretion.  Apologies in advance to any men or under 18s, thanks for your understanding!




February 20, 2013

AKLERIAH commissioned to perform 'QUEDENRAHA' at The QUEEN'S HOUSE - ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH and host DROP-IN WORKSHOPS at The SPRING KNITTING AND STITCHING SHOW at OLYMPIA


AKLERIAH perform 'QUEDENRAHA' 

at The QUEEN'S HOUSE - ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH

on 23rd March from 11am - 4pm 2013 

in response to ALICE KETTLE'S 'The Garden of England' exhibition.

  
 Please see for details: http://www.rmg.co.uk/visit/events/akleriah-quedenraha

For their performance, titled 'Quedenraha', at the 'Garden of England' exhibition, Akleriah will bring together at the Queen's House an eclectic combination of dancers, musicians and performers. The cast will be dressed in custom-made costumes of extraordinary opulence, reflecting the two Queens of the House and their legacy on the world. Akleriah is an eco-friendly duo and their costumes will incorporate the experimental use of traditional hand crafts and the upcycled waste of contemporary consumer society. 

'Quedenraha' will challenge the perception of the space as well as of the human body, questioning and interweaving the mind and the body into a rich psychological fusion. 'Body' is often referred to in botanical terms and especially in relation to women. The clothes and make up of the female and male have influenced myths throughout history, body mobility, the cultural perception of masculinity and femininity and the power and social status of humans.

The performance will play upon the history of the Queen's House and will enact a mysterious mathematical game, inspired by the grandeur of the past, which echo on the geometric floor of the impeccable Great Hall. Likewise, the House's role as a lighthearted 'party home' - which hosted masquerades and plays - and its sombre reality will be explored. 

'QUEDENRAHA' WILL TAKE YOU ON A JOURNEY THROUGH MOVEMENT, SOUND AND VISUAL EXTRAVAGANZA.

'Quedenraha' performance will last approximately half an hour and there will be 5 performances, each starting on the full hour from 11am.

Quedenraha Cast: 
 Music: Jasmine Scott Neale - cello, Elo Masing - violin 
Dance: Treacle Holasz, Ieva Kuniskis, Zoe Georgallis, Charlie Ford
Jester: Benoit Gouttenoire
Opera Singers: James Schouten, Suzi MacGregor
Wise Man: Tony Burch
Water spirits: Anna&Lenka 

Costumes and Make-up/hair: Anna Kompaniets
Performance Choreography: Lenka Horakova 
Dance Choreography: Treacle Holasz
Videography: Jason Wen 
 

 

AKLERIAH host a drop-in workshops

at The SPRING KNITTING AND STITCHING SHOW at OLYMPIA Grand Hall  on 14th - 17th March 2013 

at The Royal Museums Greenwich stand


AKLERIAH with a guest artist KSENIA ANDREEVA will be hosting a drop-in workshop demonstrating how to crochet flowers out of plastic bags. The artists will be dressed as Regal Flower Fairies. 

Suitable for beginners and advanced professionals alike, from ages 6-150. Akleriah will help anyone master the art of crochet flowers, taking a creative and ethical approach to crochet. For those wishing to take their art home, the participants will be able to stitch brooch backs to their creations and wear them. Others may wish to donate their flowers which will be used as part of costumes for the performance, Quedenraha, on 23rd March at The Queen's House. 

Several Akleriah costumes for the Quedenraha performance will also be exhibited. If you can, please bring along your used plastic bags for the workshop! All other materials will be provided. 

Akleriah look forwards to seeing you at The QUEEN'S HOUSE on 23rd March and OLYMPIA 14-17th March!

  Quedenraha sponsors 


  www.chocolatespoons.co.uk