Bio – Artist Statement – CV
About
Christian de Sousa is an artist and facilitator.
Using photography, DJing, embodied movement and collective process, he invites immersive exploration of what it means to be alive in the twenty-first century.
Christian de Sousa is an artist and facilitator.
Using photography, DJing, embodied movement and collective process, he invites immersive exploration of what it means to be alive in the twenty-first century.
Christian has held space for thousands of people to go on transformative journeys through dance. He has facilitated international projects, curated micro-festivals and nurtured emergent community systems. As a photographer, he has contributed to a variety of contexts from museums and magazines to mental health services.
Creator of the book, album & multimedia project Postcards from Babylon and the legendary 5Rhythms dance space Sweaty Thursdays in south London, he initiated and led the seminal dancingTao and Earthdreamers projects and was a pathfinder for the School of Movement Medicine teaching faculty.
Born in Switzerland of mixed European ancestry, he grew up in England and developed his practice in London and other cities. He lives in the south Devon hills with his family, and learns about enlightenment from the cats.
Christian has held space for thousands of people to go on transformative journeys through dance. He has facilitated international projects, curated micro-festivals and nurtured emergent community systems. As a photographer, he has contributed to a variety of contexts from museums and magazines to mental health services.
Creator of the book, album & multimedia project Postcards from Babylon and the legendary 5Rhythms dance space Sweaty Thursdays in south London, he initiated and led the seminal dancingTao and Earthdreamers projects and was a pathfinder for the School of Movement Medicine teaching faculty.
Born in Switzerland of mixed European ancestry, he grew up in England and developed his practice in London and other cities. He lives in the south Devon hills with his family, and learns about enlightenment from the cats.
Vision
Vision
“Art is like the rippling of sun on water. It takes us dancing between light and dark, between the surface and the depths – and offering us glimpses of the whole. Whether making photographs, DJing, teaching movement or holding participative spaces, my intention is to facilitate a remembering of this wholeness.
My work explores the relationships between what is seen (body, street, tree) and what is invisible (consciousness, systems, emotion) How does the physical reveal the intangible? How does the unseen infuse material reality? And how can we best experience and use this mysterious synergy in our living?
Life matters. We have one planet and we are many peoples. Being awake is important. Dismantling oppression is necessary, – in our world and within ourselves. Joy is necessary too. There are many dimensions to renewal. Consciousness, diversity, change – these things are processes not outcomes. Art is both a container and a medicine for the process.
“Art is like the rippling of sun on water. It takes us dancing between light and dark, between the surface and the depths – and offering us glimpses of the whole. Whether making photographs, DJing, teaching movement or holding participative spaces, my intention is to facilitate a remembering of this wholeness.
My work explores the relationships between what is seen (body, street, tree) and what is invisible (consciousness, systems, emotion) How does the physical reveal the intangible? How does the unseen infuse material reality? And how can we best experience and use this mysterious synergy in our living?
Life matters. We have one planet and we are many peoples. Being awake is important. Dismantling oppression is necessary, – in our world and within ourselves. Joy is necessary too. There are many dimensions to renewal. Consciousness, diversity, change – these things are processes not outcomes. Art is both a container and a medicine for the process.
> AUDIO RECORDING of the statement
C.V.
For C.V. please view this site on a larger device – thanks!
MAJOR PROJECTS
Transmission (2020-ongoing)
monthly deep radio livestream
dancingTao (2010-2020)
movement collective, London
Postcards from Babylon (1997-2019)
book (2012) exhibitions & multimedia invitations (2014-16) album (2019)
Earthdreamers (2011-12)
movement-based ecological action project
Ecstasy Radio (2009-2019)
podcast: DJ mixes for dancers
The Earshot Cinema (2003-04)
weekly radio show on Resonance FM (London)
CURATION, FACILITATION & SPECIAL PROJECTS
Dance for Life (2019)
non-violent direct action for climate justice
XR Pink Boat, Garden Bridge + elsewhere, London
Rhythm Village (2018)
community micro-festival of movement and creative arts
Vauxhall, London
All in Movement (2017-18)
Erasmus-funded project led by dancingTao on movement practice & social inclusion in European capital cities
Partners and events in London, Budapest, Rome, Berlin
Babylon Soul Cafe (2014)
micro-festival of photography, music and workshops,
Shoreditch, London
Inner Vision (2006)
photography workshops for young people
National Maritime Museum, London
Impact Hub (2004-05)
Artist-in-Residence & Founding Board Member,
Impact Hub, Angel, London
Ito @Soweto Mountain of Hope (2002-04)
Township Community Photography & Video Project
Soweto, South Africa
Photography for All (2001)
Islington Mental Health Day Care Centre
TRAINING & EDUCATION:
CFOR Processwork/Worldwork Facilitation for Leaders
CFOR & Processwork UK, 2017-18
Movement Medicine Apprenticeship & Professional Training
School of Movement Medicine, 2009-2011
Northern Drum Shamanic Training
Northern Drum, 2006-08
5Rhythms Teacher Training
Moving Centre School, 2004-05
PgDip Photojournalism & Documentary Photography
London College of Printing (now LCC) 1997-98
BA History & Philosophy
University of Sussex, 1994-97
Deep gratitude to my mentors and principle teachers: Gabrielle Roth, Ya’Acov & Susannah Darling Khan, Jean-Claude Audergon, Malidoma Somé & Suprapto Suryodarmo.
Respect and big thanks to the following significant teachers, guides & inspirations: Minor White, Robert Frank, Josef Koudelka, Bertrand Meunier, Daniel Foor, Chris Luttichau, Lee Harris, Jude Meads, Martin Prechtel, Arnold Mindell, Chungliang Al-Huang, Lao Tzu, the Ancients – and all the Dancers.
PHOTOGRAPHY & ART:
COMMISSIONS & COLLABORATIONS
The Wire, DJ Magazine, Mixmag, Dazed & Confused, Tank magazine, Jockey Slut, SL Magazine, Ergo, The Observer, The Evening Standard, Times Educational Supplement, Lambeth Council, Islington Social Services, YMCA, Getty Images, Photonica +
Resonance FM, European Cultural Foundation, ERASMUS, Centre pour la Recherche des Populations Alpines (CREPA), Spanner Films, Portobello Film Festival, Detroit Electronic Music Festival, SoundArt Radio +
The Atlantic Fellowship, Impact Hub, Soweto Mountain of Hope (SoMoHo), Campaign Against the Arms Trade, The Dark Mountain Project, WorldVoices, Indigenous People, PirateTv, The Asphalt Angels +
Coldcut, Ninja Tune, Laurent Garnier, David Morales, Ty, Mike Ladd, Aba-Shanti, Kakatsitsi Alex Forster +
MOVEMENT TEACHING & DJing
Dancefloor Jedi (2021-ongoing)
globally-accessible resources for movement practitioners
Sweaty Thursdays (2005-2019)
creator and lead facilitator of seminal weekly conscious dance space
St Peter’s Church, Vauxhall, London
Workshops, Immersions, Ceremonies, Ongoing Groups & Classes (2006-ongoing)
workshops, ongoing groups, year-long journeys, classes & other movement spaces in London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Basel, Zurich, Luzern, Devon+
School of Movement Medicine (2009-2020)
MM pathfinder & faculty teacher
One Dance Tribe (2016-2019)
teaching faculty for ODT Europe + ODT New York
Festivals
Secret Garden Party, Buddhafield, Into the Wild, The Synergy Project, the Artful Badger +
EXHIBITIONS
In the Space of Seven Breaths (2022)
Part of Group show, The Angel, Totnes
Postcards from Great Britain (2021)
Shutterhub touring group exhibition
Closer to Fine (2021)
Group show, Angel Gallery, Totnes
Postcards from Babylon (2014)
Solo exhibition, Blackall Studios, London
Salt of the Earth (2009)
Group show, Rotunda Gallery, Oxford
Figments of the Future (2004)
Solo exhibition, King of Hearts Gallery, Norwich
Unreal City (2004)
Solo exhibition, The Muse@269 gallery, London
Unreal City (2004)
Solo exhibition, La Ink, Toulouse, France
Footsteps in Time (2001)
Collaboration with Jop Gotto, King of Hearts Gallery, Norwich
Ecce Hora (2001)
Permanent Exhibit, Brighton Museum
Village au Carrefour (La Montagne Moderne) (2001)
Solo exhibition, Sembrancher, Switzerland
Unreal City (1998)
LCP postgraduate show, London