Dye With Movements

Context

“Dye With Movements” was part of the London Festival of Architecture under Aldgate Connect BID’s Tenterground installation by Ciaociao Design, celebrating Aldgate’s garment industry. It also formed a key component of London Metropolitan University’s summer intervention, Tales of (UP)Rising, which aimed to foster communal nurturing, growth, and sharing.

https://aldgateconnect.london/lfa2023/

The project explored the historical and cultural significance of Petticoat Lane Market and Tenterground, translating these narratives into choreographed movement and fabric-based performance. The site specific intervention used everyday materials like scaffolding and nylon fabrics to create a sustainable, interactive space for public engagement.

https://london-post.co.uk/on-tenterground-installation-and-programme-by-london-metropolitan-university-students-launche

Methodology

The project combined live improvisational dance workshops, community co production, and site responsive installations. Participants engaged in storytelling, movement creation, and visual art making using recycled and found materials. The collaborative process emphasized ecological awareness, cultural exchange, and the reinterpretation of historical textile practices.

Objectives

Cultural Reinterpretation:

To explore and reinterpret the history of Aldgate’s textile and garment industry through movement and visual art.

Artistic Engagement

To facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration between dancers, designers, storytellers, and community members.

Community Engagement

To involve local residents and visitors in co creating artworks and performances that reflect personal and communal histories.

Site-Specific Performance

To activate public spaces, such as Mallon Gardens and Toynbee Hall, through dance and installation, fostering cultural and social exchange.

Sustainability & Ecology

To promote ecological awareness by using repurposed materials and encouraging sustainable artistic practices.

Outputs

Live Dance Workshops & Performances:

Improvisational sessions held in public spaces, translating historical narratives into choreographed movement using fabric and color.

Community Co Produced Exhibition:

Artworks created by participants using mixed media magazine clippings, photographs, natural elements, and found materials displayed as signs, drawings, projections, and performance costumes.

Site Specific Installation:

A collaborative design intervention inspired by Tenterground, using scaffolding and nylon fabrics to create a dynamic performance and exhibition space.

Storytelling & Pop Up Events:

Interactive sessions that invited participants to share personal stories and contribute to the evolving narrative of the site.

Thematic Exploration:

Themes of belonging, identity, urban life, and communal resilience were explored through artistic expression and public dialogue.

Collaborative contribution:

Workshop facilitators and final performance – Dhanushka Seneviratne, Asela Rangadewa