A Resting Mess ✺ Daisy Sanders

Images by Emma Fishwick, Emma Daisy Photo, Josh Wells Photography.

A Resting Mess is a wild, warm-hearted performance exploring personal and planetary fatigue. Ten performers dance through cycles of elation and exhaustion while navigating mountains of ‘mess’ - a tactile landscape of recyclables and household items. The performance flows from from moments of idleness to energetic choreography, from calm to playful chaos. The spell of this immersive jounrey is enhanced by Josten Myburgh’s live music that traverses whisper-quiet soundscapes, ethereal saxophone chants and moments of riotous percussion. Original songs by Felicity Groom bring humour and nostalgia, with the entire case joining together in stunning melodies and choral moments.

Audiences are invited to find their own deep rest through careful acts of space-making and hosting. As they witness a variety of human moments and images, they are invited to experience a range of emotions - grief, rage and ecstasy. A Resting Mess is ultimately a restorative and empowering work, offering a sense of pervasive peacefulness, moments of surrendered acceptance and a powerful celebration of collectivity.

Reviews:

'Rekindling one's spirit while waiting for the world to end', Jonathan Marshall, AusdanceWA
'Bless this mess', Izzy French, Magazine600
'Powerful work is a paeon to rest', Nina Levy

“It feels more important than ever that we come together to dance, grieve and connect in order to rest and wrestle with the chaos of our world. A Resting Mess suggests we can begin tackling urgent social and environmental issues by building powerful community bonds.”

This article published by Performing Lines WA provides insight into the 8 year development of both the work and my rest-focused arts practice from 2016-2024.

Discover the many organisations and artists who have contributed and explore multiple iterations of the project below.

2016 - Canberra Contemporary Arts Space

Thanks to Adelina Larsson, David Pledger and the artists of the Strange Attractor Interdisciplinary Lab.

Images by Matt Cornell.

2017 - Spectrum Project Space (Honours)

Thanks to Tanya Rodin, Renee Newman and LINK dance company as research participants.

Images by Emma Fishwick, Storm Helmore.

2018 - Winter Nights Festival, The Blue Room Theatre

Thanks to Alex Kay, Bernadette Lewis, Josten Myburgh, Jay Emmmanuel, Mararo Wangai, Mike Makossa, Noemie Huttner-Koros and Rebecca Riggs-Bennett.

Images by Pixel Poetry.

2018 - Routa Company, Finland

Thanks to Lisa Nakaora, Laura and Saku Koistinen and the creative community in Kajaani, Finland.

Images by Lisa Nakaora, Saku Kositinen.

2020 - Hot House Company, All Saints College

Thanks to Narelle Codalonga, Stephen Roberts and Geoff Glencross of All Saints College, artists Bernadette Lewis, Josten Myburgh, Natalie Allen and Hot House Company arts intern Dylan Smith.

Images by Josh Wells Photography.

2021 - King Street Arts Centre

Thanks to Bobby Russell, Felicity Groom, Mitch Spadaro, Tyler Hill, Will Kalimba and Rachael Whitworth.

Images by Josh Wells Photograpy.

2022 - The Last Great Hunt, Maylands Town Hall

Thanks to Aimee Smith, Ben Nelson, Felicity Groom, Josten Myburgh, Mitch Spadaro, Pavan Hari, Tanya Rodin and Will Kalimba, with practical and creative assistance from The Last Great Hunt as part of their EXPEDITIONS platform.

This project was supported by The West australian Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

Images by Emma Daisy Photo.

2023 - Caroline Plummer Fellowship in Community Dance, Aotearoa

Thanks to Alexa Peggie, Anna Noonan, Ben Nelson, Hahna Briggs, Hannah Matthews, Josten Myburgh, Leila East Giles, Liga Ubele, Marika Thomson, Miriam Marler and others.

Partnerships with Dunedin North Intermediate, George Street Normal School and the Education faculty at University of Otago were invaluable for developing the youth and community engagement aspect of this project in Ōtepoti, Aotearoa. For more insight see Caroline Plummer Fellowship.

Images by Lokyee Szeto.

2024 - Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA)

Thanks to Ben Nelson, Felicity Groom, Josten Myburgh, Kai Taberner, Kelsey Diamond, Khia Emslie O’Brien, Lara Dorling, Mani Mae Gomes, Maree Cole, Matthew Morris, Muriel Hillion Toulcanon, pvi collective, Pavan Hari, Stephanie Pick, Zali Morgan and 20 local artists as invaluable workshop participants.

Images by Josh Wells Photography.

2024 - 10 Nights in Port (Fremantle Festival)

Artists: Daisy Sanders, Felicity Groom, Josten Myburgh, Khia Emslie O’Brien, Lara Dorling, Mani Mae Gomes, Maree Cole, Matthew Morris, Muriel Hillion Toulcanon, Pavan Hari, Stephanie Pick, Zali Morgan

Production support / design: Ben Nelson, Mark Homer

Creative producer for City of Fremantle: Stirling Kain

Images by Emma Daisy Photo, Josh Wells Photography.

resting-mess-resource-chart-final-pdf.pdf (79 KB)