CHITTER CHATTER

Aberrant nuptials - Fostering creative flows and new material configurations.

DATE: 21st July 2025 by Joanna Cole

The most obvious example of an “Aberrant Nuptial” is me and my husband.

Gilles Deleuze describes Aberrant Nuptials as “productive encounters between systems characterised by fundamental difference”.

Brad and I did not have children together and so I’m encouraged by this verbose prompt from my favourite French philosopher to look for another example of our creative output.

We have raised two dachsunds as our fur children. They are creative in their own output and require some creative repartee on our part, but let me search further to how Brad and I, two decidedly, fundamentally different entities, have combined forces to create.

Papillon Art Retreat is our most recent joint project, rather more mine than his, however, Brad has been an integral part to its success to date. What of the fundamentally different systems in the landscape at Papillon? Is there any stimulating encounter to be found by charting the binaries at Little Wobby:

  1. Manmade detritus / Nature … Paint tins, Builders Rubbish Bags and critters

  2. Earth / Sky / Water / Fire ….. Oysters, jetties and rocks and Pearls

  3. Introduced Species & Native Species - Tee Trees & Morning Glory

  4. Bush Turkey / leaf Matter… Productive Encounter … building of a nest

    Paulo de Assis and Paolo Giudici explore Delueze’ text to understand that “ More than imitation, (The Lyre bird crying out like the Machinery at Neighbours renovations) representation, or reproduction, (the butterfly fertilising the Mother of Millions plants as pictured) these AN encounters foster EXCEPTIONAL creative flows of energy, generating NEW material configurations and INTENSIVE experiences.”

    My aim in this Chitter Chatter is to entertain briefly how encounters between the critters and the Builders Bags, or the grit and the oyster, the Oyster and the jetty, the Tee Tree or the Morning Glory and the Cliff, the Turkey and the Leaf matter, are acutally generating flows of energy, intensive experiences. Could a simple awareness, and a bit of field work lead to a new delicious painting, the development of an existing series or make sense of an existing work.

    Prompted to read more of the article.. i scan the contents page and light on certain chapters - interested in “ A Theory of Becoming: Artistic Spatio-Temporal Experiences after Gilles Deleuze, Alain Badiou, and Brian Massumi by Liana Psarologaki “ In line with readings on Place and Experience by Jeff Malpas, this is the fundamental motivation behind Papillon Art Retreat.

    So what can this reveal to me that is not obvious? Stay Tuned.