SAMM SHACKLETON & PIERCE STARRE 'THE PORTAL'

After a weekend of shared exploration at The Field in Derbyshire, Samm and Pierce discovered a profound connection through contrasting experiences of addiction and survival, symbolised by the motif of a door. Positioned between two spaces, a door can serve as both a barrier and a portal—an invitation to move between realms of experience. In response, they created a diptych of two identical yet opposing images, symbolising two bodies meeting in reciprocity to share their truths.

Since the initial iteration of The Portal work, Samm and Pierce have revisited this concept together. When Samm relocated, the original door was lost, but the artists have now secured a new one. This new door serves as a continuing element in their collaboration, representing the threshold through which they explore their shared and individual journeys. In July 2024, the new door was used in a performance for camera at ASC Gallery in London as part of OTHER.

Photography: Ian Whitford