Lluniau gan Huw Jones, Jonathan Lewis, Lindsey Colbourne, Ed Straw, Steph Shipley

Our deconstructed conference was an experiment in how to run a conference in a different way. All those involved in Utopias Bach were invited (and open to all), bringing together the various parts of the strawberry plant to exchange experiences, ideas, learnings, to see what we’ve done, where we are at and what next. More than 30 human people came, some with us from the start, some new on the day… along with about 30 toad tadpoles, 4 greylag geese and numerous other beings…

This page documents the conference, and you may also wish to view two individual documentation responses - by Sarah Holyfield and Ellen Davies.

Conference questions

Our ‘agenda’ was deconstructed into questions that were sewn into badges, some questions from our experiments, some from our Collaboratory discussions back in 2020. Each participant chose a question to wear and explore during the conference, and also received a notebook in which to write insights and responses to their chosen question, the various rooms and installations and discussion.

Questions from experiments

Questions from the collaboratory (these were written by the Collaboratory in November 2020)

Conference proceedings

Notebook notes

As an experiment, we deconstructed ‘minutes’ by each person being given a notebook. Some noted responses to their chosen question, others thoughts that arose. Here are some that follow their question through, or reflect on the journey of the conference. Others that relate to particular ‘areas’ of the conference are in the sections below. Click on the images to see them bigger!

Notes from the conference by Sarah Holyfield

See here for Sarah’s notes, images and videos reflecting on how she’s been thinking about things of late – and how coming to gatherings of Utopias Bach has been for her.

 Mapping Room

Lisa installed the various maps we’ve made over the last 1.5 years, exploring aspects of our connections to Utopias Bach, what makes the Utopias Bach welcome so powerful, results of experiments

 The Greenhouse Toolkit

Julie installed Mad Lab Methodologies in the Utopias Bach Greenhouse toolkit, a space for reflection…

 Postcard Exchange

Steph installed the postcards from our Collaboratory postcard exchange, and invited us to make postcards in response to reflective prompts…

 Y Llais Bach

casgliad o leisiau o bedwar ban byd

a collection of voices from four corners of the world

gan - by - Llinos Griffin a Steffan Harri

Pa frawddegau sy’n dod i’r meddwl wrth feddwl am iwtopias? Beth ydi’ch syniadau iwtopaidd chi? Oes ‘na synau sy’n iwtopaidd i chi?

Which phrases spring to mind when you think of utopia? What are your utopic ideas? Are there sounds that are utopic to you?

 Polarities Room

In response to a suggestion by Frances Williams, Wanda installed our polarities room, and after an introduction to the power of polarities (a lecture performance), and its role in Utopias Bach thinking, Wanda encouraged us to pursue our polarities and add more..

 Aurora Room and Octopus of Omnipotence

Inspired by her Aurora Utopias Bach experiment, Samina installed the Aurora Room, asking us to express what is in your heart in this moment? What is dawning in your realisation about your lived experience and life path?

The Octopus of Omnipotence, created by Gaia Redgrave, Samina Ali and Lindsey Colbourne explores the culture of Utopias Bach, and how we create a welcoming space for everyone.

 Picnic Mwy-na-dynol : More-than-human picnic

Ffion (7 years old) chose 10 locations around the grounds at Plas Bodfa, at which we were invited to have a ‘more-than-human picnic’, with a different host at each location - from clouds to tadpoles and apple trees…

 Reflections on home turf

Succession, ponding and other installations

 Cinema Room

Films shown in our cinema room at our "Deonstructed Conference':

 Collaboratory Discussion

At the end of the conference we held a Collaboratory discussion. We talked of how things have been over the last 18 months in Utopias Bach, and ideas for what next…