Dancing on a Volcano

James Notin received a grant to write the play Dancing on a Volcano. The play is set in a dystopian industrial hub, where everyday events are used as a laboratory to examine a disturbing idea: that the human species is a biological life form whose own systems function as a pathogen.

James is a Yoruba-Nigerian experimental artist who investigates how individuals position themselves within social spaces and structures. Their work draws on focused observation and public opinion, creating space to analyse social structures and political relations. Working from the notion that humanity is characterised by anxiety about the future, Notin instead focuses on the present moment. From the position of an outsider, they create interactive situations in which individual experiences take centre stage within socio-political discourse. James is a member of Tantdile Xperimenta Lab and works across various media, including performance, interactive literature, installation and photography.