Grace Surman’s practice follows a delicate but systematic exploration of how one might live, think and act in the world, through an attempt to understand presence in the live theatrical event. Locating herself as the subject and object of her work, she places equal importance on the audience’s direct experience of the construction of the art object, as the constructed object itself.
Her working practise is based on the development of a strict set of conceptual principles, which form the framework for improvisation. During this improvised time a series of ideas are brought together through play, and cannot anticipate a predetermined outcome. She refuses to consider material, which is brought into the process through a desire to realise a precluded event or image. It is this insistence on “live” process, which marks her practise.
Since 1994, Surman has shown nationally and internationally, solo and collaborative
work in performance, installation and video. Past work has been commissioned
by and seen at ICA, CCA Glasgow, National Review of Live Art, British Dance Edition,
Chisenhale Dance and Hull Time Based Arts. She is currently supported by Tramway.
Based in Glasgow for the past six years, she teaches performance on the Contemporary Theatre Practice programme at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.
Breathing Space is a national commissioning and touring project initiated by Arnolfini (Bristol),