One-Meter Chain Reaction at Ireland
Ireland Residency, November 2025
During my residency in Ireland, I led a special iteration of One-Meter Chain Reaction, integrating participants with a natural environment. As a LGBTQ+ and Disabled artist, I framed this version around care, support, and collective presence, rather than performance perfection.
Participants, including fellow artists and volunteers, moved through the forest and historical grounds. We explored the sounds of an old, dry fountain basin by gently striking it, observing how sound resonates in the empty space. We stayed near historical stones, but did not interact with them physically. In the forest, we wandered mindfully, responding to both the environment and each other. One particularly playful moment involved lifting and releasing fallen leaves together, creating an unexpected shared rhythm.
Before engaging in these actions, we conducted a warm-up for the senses, emphasizing parts of the body that are often overlooked. Initially, each participant suggested a way to warm up their body, and one artist, Laura, proposed tongue exercises. This inspired us to consider other senses—eyes, eyebrows, ears, nose—as important channels to prepare before movement.
During the process, I discussed with Liena, an artist from the U.S., about forms of collectivism. Traditional notions often evoke synchronized movement—like group exercise, dance, or martial arts—where everyone performs in mechanical uniformity. In One-Meter Chain Reaction, however, the goal is not to do exactly the same action or make it look aesthetically perfect. Rather, the practice emphasizes observing the person before you and responding with your own body, creating a sense of connection and being supported by the group.
Participants of varying abilities or ages were encouraged to express only what their bodies could comfortably do. No one was required to perfectly imitate the previous action—honest expression and engagement were what mattered most. The chain became a living observation of human interaction: how individuals with different backgrounds, abilities, and responses form a collective rhythm, shaped by both the people and the environment around them.
Through this Irish iteration, we discovered once again that the “one-meter” distance is more than a measurement. It is a space of interaction, a slit of possibility, and a site for improvisation, care, and connection. Natural landscapes, historical remnants, and group dynamics all shaped the experience, revealing the surprising ways environments can influence both perception and participation
One-Meter Chain Reaction with Nature was made possible with the support of Tara Carroll and LIVE ART Ireland. Special thanks to all participants: Ina, Rush, Liena, Deej, Arena, Céleste, and Tara.
— Scrapheap Collective/Dong
06/12/2025
06/12/2025
Project Initiator: Dong
Leading Artist: Dong
Text:Dong