A Reflection on Samiir Saunders’ Residency

On 11th November 2023, Samiir Saunders hosted.‘Exit Strategy’, the closing event of their 2022-23 Vivid Lab residency. Samiir’s residency focused on researching themes of shame, coercion, and free will, in order to further develop their interactive performance work titled Mind Control Victims Anonymous.

During the residency, Samiir also created and delivered Shame & Compassion, a series of workshops that used group discussions and creative writing to collectively explore these themes, and provide participants with tools to navigate shame, guilt, and remorse in their own lives and relationships.

Exit Strategy reflected on these projects and provided insights into how Samiir’s artistic practice developed over the course of their residency. It was opportunity to delve into the creative process, document the research behind the works, and explore potential future outcomes for this project.