With a very successful first [synonym] session we wanted to use this space to share the amazing creativity that came out of the writing session. To kick-off this event we decided to use Tramway, Glasgow, where we responded to Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran’s exhibition ‘Idols of Mud and Water’. Analysis, evaluation and critique of Nithiyendran’s artwork was encouraged in the form of prompts for our [synners] who highlighted themes of materiality, feminism, queer identity, and spirituality through their writing.

The prompts followed a process that encouraged independent inspection of the installation to form an opinion or emotional response, later, to be used for a group discussion. The collaborating prompt was inspired by the environment’s dialect as the individual sculptures displayed multiple dialogues between one another. Having the artwriters relay their short hand responses to their chosen work provided a window into one another’s reflections, an invigorating portion of the event as all participants revealed unique single-word extractions.

Tramway is host to an immersive exhibition with its dominating atmosphere, most in part due to the central sculpture, Multi Limbed Mud Fountain. The architecture of the space also impacts the environment with its surplus of negative space that can either uplift or affect the artwork. 

Having collected responses, reflections, and introspections from one another, the artwriters were asked to create a piece of writing which resulted in the delineation of alternative accounts inspired and influenced by the works and community present.

Our first instalment of [synonym] sessions was exhilarating and revealed to Eliza and I a community of writers whom we appreciated the views and company of, so much so, we are excited to announce tickets for the second instalment of the event are now available on our Eventbrite which can be accessed through this post, our website and link found in our Instagram bio @gallery_bagging. 

To end this reflection we wanted to thank everyone again who came along and for letting us share images and type-ups of your magical works.

Transcript for Annie Muir’s writing by A-J Reynolds:

I saw my mother in the art gallery
I saw a mother in the art gallery
I saw her fingernails in the art gallery
I saw her babies in the art gallery

She’s grown taller, star-pointed bunches
her hair has grown longer
Never one for makeup. She’s caked in it now
Her fingernails the size of hard-boiled sweets
the colours of chewed gum

I saw a mother in the art gallery
holding twins joined at the hips
2 eyes between them, thick black hair
down like oil/petrol
drips
One of them cries out the other pulls her jacket
pulling her gaze from the clay

I saw the future in the art gallery
Neon, gilded, with many eyes slanted
uncontrollable leaking, smoke
I looked for my mother in the art gallery
but someone else is with her now
Her tentacles reaching out towards them
through the fog

Photos by Lee Jordan Photography

We are hosting these writing events each month and have announced our second instalment: date 23rd March 2024.

For more information and tickets to our next [synonym] session click here.