Exploring Eggs
Opening up dialogue between artists and academics using the symbolism of eggs in the work of Samuel Beckett as a starting point to inspire new work.
Exploring eggs aimed to open a dialogue between artistic influence and academic research by focusing on the symbolism of eggs in the work of Samuel Beckett, novelist, playwright, poet and theatre director.
Dr Thomas Gould, who recently completed his PhD in the Department of French, worked in collaboration with French artist, Jeanne Mordoj on the project, both of whom cite Samuel Beckett as a big influence in their work.
Thomas and Jeanne follow methodologies of bricolage in creating their work: Thomas begins with quotations, poems, theoretical frameworks, and aims to end up with an article, whereas Jeanne begins with miscellaneous objects and painting materials as she works towards a piece of performance. In contrast to academia, Jeanne’s way of working is non-verbal, intuitive and resistant to conceptualisation.
The aim of the project was to show how the contrasts and crossovers between these approaches can mutually inform artistic and academic processes of research. The two collaborators spent a week together at a residency at Hackney City Farm, exploring the intersections between their academic and artistic processes of development and how they might mutually inform each other.
Project Team
Dr Thomas Gould recently completed his PhD at the Department of French at King’s. Thomas' PhD studied Samuel Beckett, Anglo-American Modernism and French philosophy.
Jeanne Mordoj is an artistic director, author and solo performer. Drawing from her training in circus, mime and ventriloquist techniques, Jeanne has toured several productions of her physical theatre, including La Poeme and Éloge du Poil. She is interested in exploring the themes of femininity and transformation.
Crying Out Loud are a London based creative production company that nurture artists in visual theatre (often in the fields of circus, physical theatre and installation). Since 2002, they have presented events for audiences of all ages and abilities at festivals, in venues and at site specific locations in the UK, Europe and the USA. The company advocates for contemporary visual theatre and artists by making connections and initiating collaborations. Crying Out Loud has worked with a wide range of international theatre markers including James Thiérée’s Company du Hanneton, Collectif AOC, Company XY, Cirkvost, and Jeanne Mordoj.