Between 2022 and 2023, Birmingham-based, multimedia poet, artist and performer Samiir Saunders developed work with us under Vivid Lab.

The focus of thier residency was on researching themes of shame, coercion, and free will, in order to further develop their interactive performance work which took the form of Mind Control Victims Anonymous, which took place as part of Vivid Projects + Ikon Gallery Performance Art Laboratory in May 2023.

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.

On November 11th 2023, to close out their Vivid Lab residency, Saunders refelcted on these projects in Exit Strategy, a final group workshop and discussion that provided insights into how Samiir’s artistic practice developed over the course of their residency, creating an opportunity to delve into the creative process, document the research behind the works, and explore potential future outcomes for this project.