XL Gallery, Newcastle University Sep – Oct 2025

An exhibition of work which focuses on the hesitations, gestures, and pauses of every-day interpersonal communication. This collection of work was informed by an empathetic approach to making – adopted from clinical medical practice. The work was the outcome of my practice based PhD (2012-2019). The exhibition had been planned for 2019 but was delayed by the pandemic. Also included is the video Brush which was made in 2010.

Hand Gesture Film is a 20 minute video of a pair of hands re-enacting the hand gestures of people who were talking one to one (face to face) with each other.  Filmed from below and projected very large – the hands are almost the size of a person and take on a life of their own.

Sculptural Silence is a video combining contemporary “waiting” hand gestures – with an ancient sculpture. The gestures used were all copied observations of people who were waiting.

Brush a 5 minute video of a resuscitation mannikin having it’s hair gently brushed.

Poses for Bins  a 3 minute video re-enacting the poses that Bruce McLean made in his piece Poses for Plinths in 1972.

Synchrocrispicity a 5 minute video of five people eating crisps in synchronisation with each other.