Shannon Turner is a visual anthropologist, writer, and artist who works with experimental and sensory ethnographic research in realms of embodiment, queerness, ecology, and ritual. Their practice builds from collaborative engagements with human and more-than-human bodies, and an enthusiasm to dance within the interstices of science and art. They strive to cultivate sensuous and affective intimacies in both research and aesthetics, and are forever delving into liminal spaces and experiences in search of the openings found in the in-between.
Prior to studying anthropology, Shannon worked in film and television within various art department roles (sets, props, wardrobe), and in research and production support for documentary films. Over the years they have also enjoyed collaborating with other makers to produce installations and interactive art spaces for festivals and cultural events, and are passionate about working with found/upcycled materials to create playful, engaging, and immersive environments and experiences.
Shannon comes from the rugged shores of Nova Scotia, Canada, and now resides in the urban wilderness of Berlin, Germany. They hold a BA Honours in Social Anthropology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS, and MSc in Visual Anthropology from Aarhus University, Denmark.
Professional Highlights
‘Spectres of Night’ (June 2022 - Tartu, Estonia)
Experimental ethnographic film. Screened as part of the ‘Encounters with the Urban Night’ Conference and exhibited in the Estonian National Museum.
‘Encounters with the Urban Night’ (June 2022 - Tartu, Estonia)
3rd International Artists’ Residency, hosted by the Visual Research Network and Estonian National Museum - visual/sensory ethnographic research and film production.
Untitled film (2022 - Berlin, Germany)
Starring shibari artist Kata Lalalaa (in post-production) - director, DOP, co-editor.
‘Following You’ (2021-22 - Berlin, Germany)
Music video for artist Sarah Kivi (in post-production) - co-director, filming & editing.
‘Reclaim the Street’ (July 2021 - Berlin, Germany)
Researching consulting and writing for fashion editorial feature in Curated By Girls magazine.
Ravel/Unravel’ (February 2021 - Berlin, Germany)
Performance by shibari artist Kata Lalalaa - conceptual co-development and photography.
‘Anthropometry’ (December 2021 - Berlin, Germany)
Live videography/performance documentation of livestreamed performance by Stefano Taiuti for Tuttoteatro.com Awards in Rome, Italy.
‘Haptic Visuality’ (October 2020 - Berlin, Germany)
Artist talk at the ‘Laboratory About Image’ exhibition at HilbertRaum project space.
‘Body Occupation’ (August-October 2020 - Berlin, Germany)
Inkubator Collective Residency Vol. 2 . at Dada Post Berlin. 2-month residency and group exhibition.
‘Standing Up - Urban Butoh Project’ (June-October 2020 - Berlin, Germany)
Experimental ethnography/research-creation collaboration with butoh dancer Stefano Taiuti.
The Morph (2019-2021 - Boesdal, Denmark)
Installation artworks and deco for interactive art spaces at regional Burning Man-inspired event. Other key roles as board member, harm reduction and awareness, event planning and coordination.
Underbahnen (2018 - Copenhagen, Denmark)
Events coordination, film night curation, social media in community art space.
‘Pop-up Ethnography at the Situated Cinema: Confronting art with social science at the Winnipeg Festival of Moving Image’, in Urban Encounters: Art and the Public, ed. Martha Radice and Alexandrine Boudreault-Fournier (2017 - Canada)
Co-authored book chapter with Martha Radice and Brendan Harvey. Based on fieldwork conducted within ‘Tracing the City: Interventions of Art in Public Space’ urban anthropology research-creation project in 2012-2014.