III - THE RED WORK

A three-part performative series following stages of alchemical transformation through site-specific spatial interventions. III – The Red Work forms the final chapter and engages with the stage of rebirth — the emergence of something new after processes of dissolution and purification.
The project took place at The Scottish Crannog Centre on the edge of the Scottish Highlands during the Beltane Festival, a seasonal celebration marking the arrival of spring and the renewal of life after winter. Shortly before the residency, the centre’s crannog — a reconstructed Celtic roundhouse built on stilts above the water — had burned down, leaving the community of the living-history museum in a moment of loss. The installation therefore used the half-burnt remains of the structure as primary building material, transforming remnants of destruction into the basis for a new spatial form.
A structure composed of four elongated tetrahedrons was erected at the shore of Loch Tay using only materials available on site, such as wood and rope, together with replicas of iron-age tools. During construction, the traditional experimental archaeology team recognised that the method of binding three initial posts together echoed historic Celtic building techniques — an unexpected overlap between contemporary artistic process and historical craft knowledge.
Once completed, the installation became the setting for a four-day long-durational performance. Visitors were guided through the museum’s living-history stations before arriving at the lakeshore as the final encounter. Participants were invited to reflect on what had recently left their lives before entering the structure individually through two fires. Inside, they were encouraged to imagine what they wished to bring into the newly created space of possibility. Upon leaving, they received a small symbolic token made from simple materials such as wood, runes, and coloured markings, marking their personal decision.