These artworks were created during the body-mapping storytelling workshops facilitated by Anna Smirnova, AHRC MAP PhD researcher from the School of Creative Arts at the University of Lincoln (UK). Anna’s PhD study is part of the international research project ‘Mobile Arts for Peace (MAP)’ with focus on analysing MAP activities in Kyrgyzstan.
The aim of designing and delivering body-mapping workshops with Kyrgyz youth was to investigate the possibility of using body-mapping storytelling as a participatory arts-based method in revealing young people’s feelings and embodied life experiences about the surrounded them issues and conflicts.
26 young people (8 boys and 18 girls aged 12 – 18) participated in a series of body-mapping storytelling workshops. During the workshops 13 MAP Clubs members (‘Dialogue through Arts’ project) and 13 young participants of ‘the Magic of Theatre’ project discussed concerning them problems, based on their visual and oral stories, such as insecurity and violence, gender inequality, loneliness and (non)acceptance by others, fears and motivation about the future.
Following the completion of the body mapping storytelling workhshops facilitated by Anna Smirnova, the Principal Investigator of the MAP project ‘The Magic of Theatre’, Nurlan Asanbekov, created a short film as an artistic response. This film highlights three young female participants who share their stories on the difficulties that young women face in Kyrgyzstan. It was shown to a wider audience in Bishkek’s 705 Theatre, followed by a discussion about gender inequality and young responses to it.
The Magic of Theatre
Using stagecraft to explore everyday social problems: the infringement of children’s and women’s rights, domestic abuse, gender and national inequality.