Imaginal Objects: An Archive Handling Engagement Event

Presented by Diane Eagles

The culmination of Diane Eagles’s MA in Contemporary Art and Archaeology at the University of the Highlands and Islands

Seeking Participants

Friday 22 November 2024, 1.00 – 4.00 p.m. Wynter Room, Swedenborg House, London, WC1A 2TH

Friday 29 November 2024, 10.00 a.m. – 1.00 p.m. Wynter Room, Swedenborg House, London, WC1A 2TH

Limited Availability–Please RSVP by clicking the form above that matches your preferred date.

This is a free archive engagement event in our Wynter Room as part of Diane Eagles’s final project for the University of the Highlands and Islands MA in Contemporary Art and Archaeology.

Join Diane Eagles for a unique exploration of how our physical and emotional connections with objects can deepen our understanding of their meaning and value. This free event is part of Diane Eagles’ final project for the University of the Highlands and Islands MA in Contemporary Art and Archaeology.

Held at Swedenborg House, the event invites participants to explore the relationship between unconscious creative responses, deep reflection, and meaningful engagement with historical artifacts. Inspired by the concept of Swedenborgian correspondences, participants will consider how objects spark personal narratives, metaphors, and associations—examining these as potential pathways to understanding both the material and the spiritual dimensions of the world around us.

Emanuel Swedenborg believed that through a symbolic and correspondential relation with the natural world, we can deepen our relationship with ourselves and the non-material realities. This session will aim to explore whether such principles can guide participants to new ways of thinking about the objects they engage with, fostering personal insight and creative expression.

Introductory engagement:

Participants will begin by physically engaging with a range of artifacts, using all senses—sight, touch, hearing, and smell—to develop a narrative connection with the objects. This slow, contemplative interaction encourages reflection on personal memories, feelings, and insights, which will be shared and recorded for further exploration.

Meaning is created through the participant’s own perceptions and responses, from the historical context of the object to the emotional and intellectual associations it evokes. There are no “right” answers—each individual’s response is unique and valuable.

Handling and Contemplation:

Each participant will have the opportunity to handle their chosen object in silence for a few minutes, focusing their attention on its texture, weight, and presence. During this time, they are encouraged to describe their immediate reactions—the way the object feels, the sensations it provokes, and any memories, thoughts, or associations that arise.

Participants are free to speak their thoughts aloud if they feel comfortable, mindful of creating a respectful and supportive space for others. The session invites freedom of expression, with the understanding that any response, whether profound or subtle, is part of the exploration.

Reflection and Feedback:

Following the handling phase, participants will be invited to share their thoughts and insights with the group. This group discussion provides an opportunity to deepen the individual reflections, adding layers of meaning through collective interpretation. Together, the group will form a rich tapestry of associations, enhancing each participant’s understanding of the objects and their own responses.

Throughout the event, participants will have access to drawing and writing materials to further explore their responses. A questionnaire will be provided to guide and support the reflective process.

A small display of materials from the events will be exhibited in a vitrine in the Gardiner Room near the beginning of next year.

People who are blind or partially blind are welcome to attend. Please note that individuals will need to be able to climb the stairs to the Wynter Room, with assistance from staff.

This event is intended for adults (defined as 18+) only.

Diane Eagles is a London-based artist and NHS Art Psychotherapist, interested in William Blake. She is currently studying for an MA in Contemporary Art and Archaeology with the University of the Highlands and Islands, investigating emotional investment in objects.

Her work is inspired by ritual, emotional and spiritual investment in objects, healing and power, and the historic/her/theirstory resonance. Ideas closely related to her professional career.

She has contributed to the William Blake journal Vala, and to the Swedenborg Review. She has recently had work in the Hetain Patel Artangel exhibition, Come As You Really Are, The Hobby Cave, at Grants, Croydon. For more visit @edens_clay.