Marcus Coates
'At the core of Marcus Coates’ work is a relationship to the unknowable... he seeks to uncover degrees of understanding and knowing, testing our definitions and boundaries of autonomy. Coates devises processes to explore the pragmatism and insight that empathetic perspectives and imagined realities can offer, explicitly addressing a need to create functional and inclusive languages where conventional strategies of understanding and rationalisation prove inadequate.' (Workplace Gallery, no date)
Journey to the Lower World, 2004/ Plover's wing, 2009:
On becoming animal: This is what shamans do. They can 'access knowledge and understanding of different worlds and they can access answers to very specific problems in their communities.'
Coates donned a selection of animal skins and performed for a group of residents in a block of flats. He was claiming that he would speak to the animal spirits on their behalf. He 'goes down to the lower world' and waits there for animal spirits to interact with him, often using animal and bird calls to connect with them. he says that 'usually, eventually, some animal comes and does something special'. Watching the video, it's clear that many of the people there thought it was funny! For Plover's wing, he performed for the mayor of an Israeli city to answer a question about the Israeli/Palestinian situation. He seems very intense about it all, but it's also very funny to watch.
Journey to the Lower World, 2004/ Plover's wing, 2009:
On becoming animal: This is what shamans do. They can 'access knowledge and understanding of different worlds and they can access answers to very specific problems in their communities.'
Coates donned a selection of animal skins and performed for a group of residents in a block of flats. He was claiming that he would speak to the animal spirits on their behalf. He 'goes down to the lower world' and waits there for animal spirits to interact with him, often using animal and bird calls to connect with them. he says that 'usually, eventually, some animal comes and does something special'. Watching the video, it's clear that many of the people there thought it was funny! For Plover's wing, he performed for the mayor of an Israeli city to answer a question about the Israeli/Palestinian situation. He seems very intense about it all, but it's also very funny to watch.
Tate (2009) Marcus Coates/Tateshots Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfBgWtAIbRc Accessed: 20 November 2020
20.11.20 I know little about Coates and his practice, but remembered his shamanistic performances in a block of flats so thought I'd revisit his work to see whether there are any connections with mine, in terms of ritual, social engagement and maybe performance.
As part of an artist's residency, Coates moved into a 24-storey block of flats in Liverpool which was scheduled for demolition. It interests me that he developed relationships with the residents and then invited them to be involved in his ritual. The question he asked the animal spirits on that occasion was 'Do we have a protector for this site and what is it? he describes his 'Journey to the Lower World' ( He says ' I used the lifts here as an imaginative point to start my journey down. I started from the top floor (from the 21st floor),... and kept going down.' He claims that eventually he interacted with a sparrow hawk and interprets that interaction for the residents thus:
' The sparrow hawk could signify anything... you, all of you... the community...the site...you should really get as close knit as you can....your protector is the group...that's the thing that's going to look out for you... your community or your group is your most valuable asset and that's the thing that's going to be your protector... its not really any individual, or any mystical animal ...it sounds quite straight forward, really, but it's quite difficult to keep. ' (Coates, 2016 p178-9)
He then asks the group what they think and they explain that a small group have struggled to get people involved in the Residents' Association but that most people aren't interested, saying 'It's only a few of us that do maintain togetherness.' Coates reassures them, saying . @I think the fact that you're trying is the most important thing....keeping trying to include people...If they come they come, if they don't they don't , but you keep trying (in Coates, 2016, p179)
The residents' responses are fab 'Well, what did you think about it, girls?... I enjoyed it. It was very good. I got carried away with it.' (in Coates, 2016 p179)
I had wondered how he had persuaded the residents to take part in this bizarre ritual, but I now realise that it was about relationship and empathy. He invested in that group of people, but living amongst them and finding out about their concerns and their lives. They accepted him and so were interested and responsive to his suggestions. It does remind me of the approach of any religious group, or missionarry, in getting converts, but that's probably rather cynical of me. It seems that his motivation was genuine, caring and inquisitive.
As part of an artist's residency, Coates moved into a 24-storey block of flats in Liverpool which was scheduled for demolition. It interests me that he developed relationships with the residents and then invited them to be involved in his ritual. The question he asked the animal spirits on that occasion was 'Do we have a protector for this site and what is it? he describes his 'Journey to the Lower World' ( He says ' I used the lifts here as an imaginative point to start my journey down. I started from the top floor (from the 21st floor),... and kept going down.' He claims that eventually he interacted with a sparrow hawk and interprets that interaction for the residents thus:
' The sparrow hawk could signify anything... you, all of you... the community...the site...you should really get as close knit as you can....your protector is the group...that's the thing that's going to look out for you... your community or your group is your most valuable asset and that's the thing that's going to be your protector... its not really any individual, or any mystical animal ...it sounds quite straight forward, really, but it's quite difficult to keep. ' (Coates, 2016 p178-9)
He then asks the group what they think and they explain that a small group have struggled to get people involved in the Residents' Association but that most people aren't interested, saying 'It's only a few of us that do maintain togetherness.' Coates reassures them, saying . @I think the fact that you're trying is the most important thing....keeping trying to include people...If they come they come, if they don't they don't , but you keep trying (in Coates, 2016, p179)
The residents' responses are fab 'Well, what did you think about it, girls?... I enjoyed it. It was very good. I got carried away with it.' (in Coates, 2016 p179)
I had wondered how he had persuaded the residents to take part in this bizarre ritual, but I now realise that it was about relationship and empathy. He invested in that group of people, but living amongst them and finding out about their concerns and their lives. They accepted him and so were interested and responsive to his suggestions. It does remind me of the approach of any religious group, or missionarry, in getting converts, but that's probably rather cynical of me. It seems that his motivation was genuine, caring and inquisitive.
Guy, B. (2014) Marcus Coates - Journey to the Lower World Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAUWVKxiG2s (Accessed: 20 November 2020)
It's based on a 'Shamanic performance by British artist Marcus Coates of a traditional Siberian Yakut ritual for the residents of Sheil Park, Liverpool, in January 2003' The video is just 28 minutes long.
Whilst watching the full video, here are my thoughts:
1. Relationship: he seems to really care. I think. In 'Rose's flat'... somewhere familiar. he starts vacuuming, spitting etc as part of his preparation. It makes his audience relax. Reassurances 'We aren't talking to the dead. You can leave if you want to. The toilet is ...' Using the lifts here as an imaginative tool' takes the audience with him on his journey, in their imaginations.
2. Small physical audience: ( people, 8 women, one man.) Audience expanded by documenting it with a video. Interesting that there are more women than men, mostly elderly.
3. Audience participation/responses: Very funny interjections/commentary from the audience. They know him well enough! I think the best parts of the video are the shots of the faces of the audience : We see humour, nervousness, disbelief, discomfort, curiosity, seriousness...
4. Anticipation: So called 'performance preparation, tying keys to his shoes, drumming CD. Leaving the room to don the stag skin...when he appears the mood changes....uncertainty, apprehension? on the faces in audience, but also some smiles. Someone uses the word 'seance' ... Drum beat changes as the performance progresses. Ritually coming out of the trance eg drinking water, spitting, removing the animal hide
5. Humour: Antlers and the lampshade, setting, everything!
6.Belief? Hope? Connection?
7. Surrealism/fantasy in an everyday setting: Escapism
8. Storytelling: intensity of his story telling, with some familiar elements from life (using the lifts), but also from symbolism (Dark caves, touching the sides, pool) myth (labyrinth) and imagination (open lake, stag -auto suggestion, they've just been looking at a stag- dense forest 'round the edge') Inclusive language, explanation of what the animals and birds he mentions are. Description of the allegory of the sparrow hawk 'feathers all moving in different directions' etc Pauses.
9. What is this? Group therapy?
Whilst watching the full video, here are my thoughts:
1. Relationship: he seems to really care. I think. In 'Rose's flat'... somewhere familiar. he starts vacuuming, spitting etc as part of his preparation. It makes his audience relax. Reassurances 'We aren't talking to the dead. You can leave if you want to. The toilet is ...' Using the lifts here as an imaginative tool' takes the audience with him on his journey, in their imaginations.
2. Small physical audience: ( people, 8 women, one man.) Audience expanded by documenting it with a video. Interesting that there are more women than men, mostly elderly.
3. Audience participation/responses: Very funny interjections/commentary from the audience. They know him well enough! I think the best parts of the video are the shots of the faces of the audience : We see humour, nervousness, disbelief, discomfort, curiosity, seriousness...
4. Anticipation: So called 'performance preparation, tying keys to his shoes, drumming CD. Leaving the room to don the stag skin...when he appears the mood changes....uncertainty, apprehension? on the faces in audience, but also some smiles. Someone uses the word 'seance' ... Drum beat changes as the performance progresses. Ritually coming out of the trance eg drinking water, spitting, removing the animal hide
5. Humour: Antlers and the lampshade, setting, everything!
6.Belief? Hope? Connection?
7. Surrealism/fantasy in an everyday setting: Escapism
8. Storytelling: intensity of his story telling, with some familiar elements from life (using the lifts), but also from symbolism (Dark caves, touching the sides, pool) myth (labyrinth) and imagination (open lake, stag -auto suggestion, they've just been looking at a stag- dense forest 'round the edge') Inclusive language, explanation of what the animals and birds he mentions are. Description of the allegory of the sparrow hawk 'feathers all moving in different directions' etc Pauses.
9. What is this? Group therapy?
Coates, M. (Ed.) (2016) Marcus Coates London: Koenig Books
Guy, B. (2014) Marcus Coates - Journey to the Lower World Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAUWVKxiG2s (Accessed: 20 November 2020)
Lamont, T. (2012) Marcus Coates: 'Eventually something serious comes through' Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/apr/08/marcus-coates-artist-elephant-castle (Accessed: 20 November 2020)
Tate (2009) Marcus Coates/Tateshots Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfBgWtAIbRc Accessed: 20 November 2020
Workplace Gallery, (no date) Marcus Coates Available at: https://www.workplacegallery.co.uk/artists/9-marcus-coates/ Accessed: 20 November 2020
Guy, B. (2014) Marcus Coates - Journey to the Lower World Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAUWVKxiG2s (Accessed: 20 November 2020)
Lamont, T. (2012) Marcus Coates: 'Eventually something serious comes through' Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/apr/08/marcus-coates-artist-elephant-castle (Accessed: 20 November 2020)
Tate (2009) Marcus Coates/Tateshots Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfBgWtAIbRc Accessed: 20 November 2020
Workplace Gallery, (no date) Marcus Coates Available at: https://www.workplacegallery.co.uk/artists/9-marcus-coates/ Accessed: 20 November 2020