homo(sapiens): Designing raw and defined material opportunities

This research report reflects on the development of the costume design and choreography of homo(sapiens), a performance piece developed and staged between 2020 and 2022. Materials and costumes played an essential role in the performance, generating the narrative by somatically ‘speaking’ to the wearer. Two categories of somatically choreographic materials were defined through the work: ‘raw material opportunities’ based on the inherent capability of materials to inspire and create movement and form, and ‘defined material opportunities’ in which costumes were designed and formed with a choreography or movement language in mind. Comprehending these two approaches is crucial, as each design method offers, and requires, different choreographic and dramaturgical methods when integrated in a stage-based work.