A collaboration with Journey Through the Senses ‘Not to be Senseless’ is a stage for neurodivergent art; with people and pieces that experience and explore neurodivergencies such as synaesthesia, savantism and autism. The evening opens up new perspectives by recognising differences in how we sense the world. 

Society is still restricted in its knowledge and acceptance of neurodivergency, with neurodivergent people often being seen as difficult. This makes it important to create a moment where neurodivergencies get a place to be seen and respected. To show that neurodivergencies are a strength that show us our world in a different light. 

To echo the different worlds of the neurodivergent this event will also highlight different senses, including smell, sound, touch and proprioception. 

James Wannerton

James Wannerton is an English IT professional, artist and writer.  He experiences sound to taste synaesthesia, including lexical-gustatory synaesthesia;  i.e.  he can taste all sounds, most significantly word sounds.

James was one of the first individuals in the UK to have his synaesthetic experiences studied and documented, appearing in over 100 published research papers world-wide.  In 2000 he teamed up with Professor Jamie Ward at University College London and Professor Julia Simner at the University of Edinburgh.  He has also worked with Professor Simon Baron-Cohen and Dr John Harrison at Cambridge University.   

Jonathan Reus

Jonathan Chaim Reus (b. US) is a transmedia artist and musician known for his use of expanded digital instrumentation in live, theatrical and virtual (online) contexts. Thematically, his work often explores nuances and contradictions within single-story narratives around technology and culture. He has done extensive artistic research relating to musical instrument heritages and how concepts of tradition and folk art become transformed through technological change. His most current work is exploring relationships between human voice and its artificial reproduction.

Lauren Jetty

Lauren Jetty (b.1991) is an artist, performer, musician, lecturer and educator, often blurring the lines between these roles. Curiosity and conversation drive Lauren’s practice; she presents scenarios that bring the familiar into the realm of the magical.

She specialises in the ‘other’ senses (taste, touch and smell), with a particular interest in the cross-modality of scent and sound. Each of the senses plays a role in the reception or perception of the others. The collaboration and contradiction of senses can be utilised to create playful and surprising physical sensory experiences. This physicality of experience is important in an increasingly digital and digitised world. The ‘other’ senses require this physicality and intimacy.

Maria Oosterveen

Maria Oosterveen is an Art-Science Alumni and artist with a background in Analytical chemistry. Her works are tactile, performative in the broad sense of the word with a hint of the political and philosophical. In other words they touch you on more levels than just the obvious. Currently she works with textiles to create her works of art. Handwork has a personal meaning to Maria Oosterveen as the skill has been passed on from generation to generation, woman to woman.

Journey Through the Senses is a non profit organisation celebrating the vast universe of human sensory perception through the lens of art, performance, science, technology and interactive installations.

Not to be Senseless is presented by iii with financial support from Creative Industries Fund NL, The Municipality of The Hague and Journey Through The Senses