The Oral Tradition: A Love Song, For Gilgamesh - Camden Art Centre

The Oral Tradition: A Love Song, For Gilgamesh

The Oral Tradition

Ruth Barker – A Love Song, For Gilgamesh
Sunday 1 September, 3.00 – 3.30pm

Broadcast live at thisistomorrow.info

A Love Song, For Gilgamesh was originally scripted for the striking location of the empty swimming pool on board the SS Rotterdam – an ex cruise-ship moored in Rotterdam Harbour. For The Oral Tradition, artist Ruth Barker will spend one week re-imagining and developing the work in the Artist&ampamp#39s Studio, for a live public performance.

Ruth Barker is a Glasgow-based artist whose performance poetry re-tells ancient myths as resonant, current, events. Re-composing ancient stories through the lens of her own unconscious associations, personal autobiography, and mythological research, Barker&ampamp#39s performances are hypnotic, ritualised, events. Her words are recited from memory with a concentrated focus that becomes by turns magical, claustrophobic, and cathartic.

Ruth works with a fashion designer from whom she commissions bespoke garments to be worn during her performances. For A Love Song, For Gilgamesh, Glasgow-based designer Carmel O'Brien has created a striking floor-length piece in rich russet velvet and gold lurex.

The Oral Tradition is a series of short projects focusing on performed narrative. The spoken word, from mythic folklore to the call centre script, is a strong influence in the work of both Jockum Nordström and Emma Hart and this programme has been developed in response to these evolving traditions. The performances take place over four weeks, drawing on diverse source material including epic poetry, digital history and contemporary social protest.