Drawing on the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoko (forest bathing) ‘The Ritual of Bush Bathing’ was a seasonal walk designed to increase wellbeing by helping us reconnect with nature.
Led by local custodian and Ngunawal man, Tyronne Bell, we traversed the ridges and hills of Mt Majura. Tyronne told us about the history of the site, and the aboriginal culture that is deeply embedded in the landscape. This event culminated in a digeridoo performance by Jayden Goodrem, a descendent of the Peramangk people.
Anthropologically speaking, rituals connect us to a culture, a sub-culture, maybe even a cult. We have always been curious observers of the repetitive and sometimes strange routines people practise in private. This fascination with human behaviour is the catalyst for a creative project and ongoing study of all the weird and wonderful rituals people do every day. For the project we have created a series of short films directed by U-P and Alyssa McClelland that re-enact the bizarre rituals of others inside the rooms of Hotel Hotel. We’ve also written articles, catalogued everyday rituals across cultures, studied tools and implements connected to rituals and have invited photographers to document their own rituals.
The Ritual of Practise with Alyssa McClelland
25.07.17
Film
The Ritual of Burrowing into Bed with Alyssa McClelland
24.07.17
Film
The Ritual of Reading in Bed with Rosanna Stevens
28.05.17
Performance
The Ritual of Reading in Bed with Rhys Nicholson
26.03.17
Performance
The Ritual of Bush Bathing
19.03.17
Workshop
T S Eliot's Daily Face Painting Ritual
16.06.15
Film
Le Corbusier's Daily Ritual of Calisthenics
16.06.15
Film
Franz Kafka’s Ritualistic Procrastination
16.06.15
Film
Benjamin Franklin's Daily Air Bath Ritual
16.06.15
Film
Emily Bronte's Insomnia Ritual
16.06.15
Film
The Ritual of Limbering Up With Mike Whitney
02.06.15
Performance
The Ritual of Long Walks with Barrie Barton
09.05.15
Performance
The Ritual of Reading in Bed with Emily Sexton
03.05.15
Performance