Art / immersive art
One-day-only immersive show tries to ‘redefine’ the meaning of sober events
A day of immersive performances on Sunday will try to “redefine” sober events as more than dryness or something exclusively for people in recovery.
Through the Looking Glass by Phoëbe Hares aka MadStillNess at The Mount Without is a “Mad Hatter tea party, teetotal affair”, inspired by Alice in Wonderland.
“I wanted these spaces to be more silly, less serious,” said Phoëbe, about the idea behind the event. “I really wanted it to feel like every single person has a place at the table, and it’s not just an observer-performer situation. I wanted everyone to be a part of the performance.”
mÈlanffro is an interdisciplinary creative and fashion force who promises to bring “high energy and excellence” to all their perfomances – photo: Trashdolly
Immersive performers, riveting sounds from a live band and a special light projection by artist Pneumatek are some of the things visitors can expect at this special, one-day event.
Phoëbe, who has chronic fatigue, said the exhibition on Sunday was born out of a longing for good sober events.
“I feel in Bristol and even other cities, one one hand we have the sober scene which is very spiritual and serious which is good for some people and has a place in society. But the music scene, on the other hand, is renowned for being so heavily paired with drug culture.
“There is no space in between, and I think to celebrate art, expression and music we shouldn’t have to be intoxicated and be in an incredibly overstimulating environment.”
Phoëbe said that she had seen people feel distant from experiences simply because they lacked the energy to be in a space.
View this post on Instagram
For her, integrating people into the experience is of paramount importance.
“To integrate people into a space, it is important to have an area where people can just go and sit down, and unapologetically be themselves even if they’re not themselves,” she added.
After an early morning yoga session, visitors can enjoy a live performance by house band Lab Jams.
Shortly after 5pm, immersive artists will take over the floor for the rest of the evening. Some performers on the evening include Camilla Mason, LEXX, Morbid Merriment, mÉlanffro, Fern Enley and Naomi Wood.
Beverage requirements for the evening will be fuelled by Bristol’s newest sober bar Arc in collaboration with Sentia.
Emphasising on her ethos for the event, Phoëbe said: “It is not just about having a sober space, but to bring together different communities.
“We are so separated by categories that we label ourselves.
“With everything going on in the world at the moment and Bristol being such a community-based, liberal city, there are no spaces where all of these communities can just come together and just be, and play and realise that we’re all just people.
“We all need to unite at the moment.”
Main photo: Fern Baldwin
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
