As part of Tessa Lynch's commission Alexandrite, Tessa undertook a residency at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena culminating in a performance. Tessa devised a series of weekly workshops – part climbing practice and part visual workshop – with members of EICA and individuals from Collective's audience to develop a new performance at Edinburgh International Climbing Arena on Sunday 11 April 2010.

Taking the story of the Alexandrite diamond's discovery in the Russian Urals, Tessa acts out the dual qualities of the diamond, which shines green in daylight and red in incandescent light, providing new emphasis to this naturally formed gemstone. Ideas of duality are explored in various ways throughout the performance with specific reference to duality in the works of the Dada artist Francis Picabia, recalling Picabia's 1924 ballet Relâche.

Alexandrite involved working with many collaborators who, through active workshops, offered new interpretations and contributions to the final work. The performance was a one-off experience and was filmed live on the night. The documentation of Alexandrite then fed into a new work screened at the gallery which played with ideas of reenactment.

Download the performance information here

Related

Ongoing, Learning: Tessa Lynch, Abbeyhill & Leith Walk Primary Schools

Archive, Exhibitions: Tessa Lynch, Alexandrite, 13 April – 23 May 2010

Archive, Exhibitions, New Work Scotland Programme: Tessa Lynch, 6 – 10 November 2007