Abstract

The work, produced for Loughborough University's arts programme, Radar, was among 6 commissions by artists who involve walking in their visual practice (inc. Claire Blundell-Jones, Duncan Speakman) and was linked to a conference analyzing the relations of current theoretical debates in ethnography, tourism, geography and anthropology to those visual arts practices that involve walking. Brennan's work extended his methodology of working with the guided walk form as a discursive mode, further establishing it as essential to any understanding of ambulation as art. He presented a walk, performed with participants through the streets of Loughborough that made specific reference to the historical account of Luddism in the town. In addition to the public, a range of leading academics key to the emerging discourse of space, place and art attended the events – (Social Anthropology, Sarah Pink; Social Psychology, Alan Radley; Social Geography, Phil Hubbard; Sociology/Cultural Criminology, Maggie O'Neill). Papers and presentations from the following were also presented: Tim Edensor (Manchester Metropolitan University), Andrew Irving (University of Manchester), Hamish Fulton (Artist) and Misha Myers (Falmouth College of Art).