Flesh Perspective Joshua Rutter

Some years ago, Dave and I were doing some dance training on top of a carpark building in central Auckland. I think we were taking turns trying to tell stories with our feet. After about ten minutes a car pulled up beside us and a security guard leaned out the drivers-side window, “What you boys doing?”

Not able to think of anything else, I replied,

“Training.”

“Oh...” he sat back in his seat, nodding gently “...training.” He reflected on this a moment longer then fixed his eyes on mine. “Sweet. Have a good one.” and drove off.

No longer able to concentrate, we went for coffee.

The activities in the rooms may feel like training, or just pointless. Some of them are practiced by professional sports people, others are made up. Maybe it’s possible to get better at the actions by simply doing them, or maybe you’re just hastening the heat-death of the universe. There mightn’t be another place where you get the chance to try them out, unless you recreate them yourself. In all cases, the point is in the doing. Each activity invites reflection in action, offering the simple joys and frustrations of bodily play. Each presents a problem that can be met with to-hand skills almost unconsciously at a bodily level. This leaves the mind free to reflect, or become absorbed in detail.

Joshua Rutter is a freelance artist from NZ based in Berlin, Germany. He has performed in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Oceania. He has worked with notable international artists such as Min Tanaka, Tino Sehgal, Jerome Bel, Hans Van den Broeck, Kate McIntosh, Alicia Frankovich, Jochen Roller, and many NZ artists. Coming from a movement and dance background, his work tends to linger around the choreographic aspects of culture. He has recently completed his Masters studies in Solo/Dance/Authorship at the Berlin University of the Arts. This study was made possible with a stipend from the DAAD.