Empathy

Some questions revealing a bit more about Sarah Woods

1. How would you describe your practice (in less than 15 words)? I enjoy exploring key current issues through comedy, collaboration - and the latest thinking.
2. Why did you apply for the commission, and what made you choose empathy? I applied for the commission because I respect the work of People United hugely - and very much wanted an opportunity to work with the organisation. My work has values at its core and I believe that understanding and tuning into our capacity for empathy enables us to be truly human.
3. What values do you think are important in your work? My current work is around empathy, kindness and care, which I think enable us to connect and therefore access other values such as trust and equality. My introduction to values as things that could be named and explored came through the Co-operative Group, as a member of one of their local committees. These values, adopted by the worldwide co-operative movement, evolved from the ideals of the early co-operators of the 18th and 19th centuries and are embodied in the Statement of Co-operative Identity published by the International Co-operative Alliance. They are: Self-help - helping each other whilst helping yourself by working together for mutual benefit, Self-responsibility, Democracy - one member, one vote, Equality - equal rights and benefits, Equity - the right to fair and just treatment, and Solidarity. In addition are the ethical values of Honesty, Openness, Social responsibility and Caring for others. These values underpin all of my work and are, in my experience, transformatory in practice.
4. What's the most interesting place you've visited? I often work closely with all sorts of people - from scientists, to campaigners, communities and fellow artists. Without doubt, the most interesting place I've ever visited is the inside of someone else's head.
5. What came first: the chicken or the egg? We keep chickens on our smallholding, and in our case the chickens certainly came first. We got some ex-battery hens who arrived looking oven-ready, their combs drooping like comb-overs. Then we were given some more by a friend who didn't want them anymore, then some more by a couple who wanted to spend more time away in their campervan. And then we hatched some of our own.