A SANCTUARY RING IS A METAL KNOCKER ON THE DOOR OF A CHURCH. UNTIL THE 17TH CENTURY FUGITIVES COULD HOLD THE RING AND CLAIM ASYLUM FOR 40 DAYS FROM THE LAW.
In this durational site specific performance at St Clement’s Church, Martin O’Brien and Sheree Rose create their own sanctuary of sickness. This is a place for freaks, monsters and weirdos. It’s a place of pain, sacrifice and submission in order to survive and you are invited to join them. Take cover from the chaos of the outside world and let’s claim sanctuary together.

Martin is an artist whose work draws upon his experience of suffering from cystic fibrosis. His work uses physical endurance, long durations and pain in order to address a politics of the sick queer body. He has presented work throughout the UK, Europe and the US and is lecturer in performance at Queen Mary University.

Sheree Rose is a pioneering body artist. She became infamous during the 1980s as an artist and dominatrix for her collaborations with partner Bob Flanagan. Together they explored illness, love, death and pain for sixteen years until his death from cystic fibrosis in 1996. She has presented work throughout the world including at the New Museum of Modern Art (New York), Tate Liverpool, Santa Monica Museum of Modern Art.

Martin O’Brien and Sheree Rose’s 2016 UK appearances are co-presented by SPILL Festival of Performance and DaDaFest International: Skin Deep