Matthias Sperling: No-How Generator
No-How Generator embarks from the question: If knowledge-generation is a fundamentally embodied process, can we see and experience it happening in a dance performance?
Performed with Katye Coe and joined by a different guest performer each time, Matthias Sperling’s newest work invites you to experience a ritual-like performance that connects scientific perspectives on embodied cognition with more magical ways of knowing, such as divination, alchemy, shamanism or hypnosis.
With both seriousness and gently subversive humour, the work reflects on a dance performance’s potential to serve as a collective experience where particular forms of knowing are conjured into being – for performers and audience members alike.
First performed in 2019, No-How Generator has been created through Sperling’s artistic doctoral research process, which began in 2017. This performance at DMU concludes this period of artistic research.
Sperling’s doctoral studentship at DMU is supported by Midlands4Cities, in partnership with Dance4 and Siobhan Davies Dance.
No-How Generator has been supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England, Midlands4Cities, Dance4, Siobhan Davies Dance and Sadler’s Wells.
Choreographer and performer: Matthias Sperling
Collaborating performer: Katye Coe
Lighting and space designer: Jackie Shemesh
Clothing designer: Alexa Pollman
Clothing Fabricator: Mabel Luz Flores
Sound Consultant: Joel Cahen
Graphic Designer: Victoria Ford
Producer: Iris Chan
Matthias’ website
Audience info:
Seating for this performance is on all four sides of the stage area and will be on both cushions at floor level and on chairs. Please contact Katie Lewis at dmuvenues@dmu.ac.uk if you have any access requirements. Capacity is limited and audiences will be spaced at least 1 metre apart. The performance will take place in Hall 2 at The Venue.
Below are some video clips giving more insight into the context around the work with artist Katye Coe asking the questions and Matthias answering.
No-How Q&A No.1: on the title ‘No-How Generator’ https://vimeo.com/354705259
No-How Q&A No.2: on ideas of ‘Magic & Science’ https://vimeo.com/356709029
No-How Q&A No.3: on how audiences are invited to experience the performance https://vimeo.com/356712475
No-How Q&A No.4: on the relationship between dance performance and embodied knowledge-generation in this work https://vimeo.com/356713831