Mammalian Diving Reflex
Mammalian Diving Reflex, led by Darren O’Donnell, Eva Verity and Jenna Winter, is a prize winning Canadian research and performance art company from Toronto. Since 1993, it has been realizing projects in collaboration with schools, companies, senior citizen’s homes, and festivals. They are interested in the relationship between power and powerlessness and questions of the equity, marginalization, and dignity of children. With surprising shifts of perspective, they introduce a new quality to well-rehearsed relationships between the individuals and their community. Their best-known works included Haircuts by Children, The Best Sex I Ever Had, and the manifesto The Mammalian Protocol for Collaborating with Children. Mammalian Diving Reflex received several awards such as the Toronto Arts Foundation's Arts for Youth Award in 2009 and most recently the Harbourfront Centre's Fresh Ground New Works Award in 2010. Mammalian Diving Reflex develops ideal entertainment for the end of the world.
With the project Children’s Choice Award, Mammalian Diving Reflex opened the Ruhrtriennale’s program series No Education in 2012. The focus of this project is the idea of a capable child and the question how to apply the means at hand to create an overall vision of a democratic and inclusive society.
Darren O’Donnell, essayist, playwright, director, stage designer and performer, is founder of Mammalian Diving Reflex a Canadian artist collective. He received the renowned Gabriel Award for his audio drama “Like a Fox”. “Social Acupuncture” (2006) is among his numerous publications on artistic form of participation. His new book “Playing with Children” is under way. Darren O’Donnell is a trained actor and holds a Master in Urban Planning. He lives in Toronto and works around the world.