Abstract

This essay delves into communication outside of spoken or written language between various material bodies in the context of five live art performances. As a response to this journal issue’s theme regarding acts of translation within creative practice research, When Words Won’t Work questions the value of explanation, a form of translation, to advocate for intuition, subjectivity and sensation to replace reason and legibility of a practice of small gestures, body movements, and vocal tones. The essay is framed by a brief recollection of Joseph Beuys’ performance work How to Explain a Picture to a Dead Hare to expand what it is to converse with materials.

Keywords: performance art, liveness, explanation, gesture

How to Cite:

Preston, J., (2026) “When Words Won’t Work: Notes on performing the untranslatable”, field 10(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.62471/field.135