‘Paths to Suffering’ evolved from my need to understand suffering. Suffering: the definition, meaning and the experiences - what it is to suffer? My initial, individual interest was in the death marches undertaken during the Nazi Holocaust. Although there have been acts of great human suffering since the holocaust, this event which has been documented extensively is probably the single largest experience of personal suffering within my lifetime, it is also a subject I have previously researched.

My original concept was to undertake a death march, to realistically experience the physical and mental journey of walking under the conditions of a forced march; despite concerns for my well-being and health & safety regulations.

Having been challenged by my own experience of suffering, having attempted unsuccessfully on many occasions to give this phenomenon a human shape and identity, it was suggested that to understand the global suffering of others, I had to hold some concept, some acceptance of my own suffering.

I had never considered using my own suffering as a means to assimilate another’s personal pain, having instead always superimposed onto my own experiences the historical suffering of others.

In conversation, I started to reflect on this and began considering exploring, (not to revisit past events nor re-create past scenarios, and certainly not ask why, but to explore) by means of personal performance my own suffering.

I decided firstly to perform actions by myself; to later develop this as when I feel and need into an exchange or loose relationship with others, sharing a philosophy on ‘what is suffering?’

The performances (undertaken in silence) take place on isolated paths and disused railway lines, some of which have a particular personal meaning.

‘Paths to Suffering’ is envisaged as a work in progress, a personal document and journey - originally conceived in 2006.