‘Can I discuss an idea with you perhaps tomorrow? It’s difficult to write this in an e-mail but easier to discuss or brainstorm by phone potentially… are you around?’

Erik had this idea in mind for a different Christmas card this year.

‘Can we show what groupH does through the means of movement and dance? Can we find a way to explain science through arts? Conceptual, abstract and minimal.’

A team of 14 got together and started developing this challenging and beautiful idea in mid-October. The team was a collaboration of composers, cinematographers, contemporary dancers and multidisciplinary artists based in London

With concepts such as ‘thinking outside the box’ and ‘support’, the piece tries to reproduce the team work present at groupH. The team as a vehicle between the real world and the mind. The colours of the dancers’ costumes represent heart (red), brain (white) and legs (black). They also represent groupH’s identity. The masking tape is a visual metaphor for the data that travels across the team and outside the team, the individual’s thoughts and the team’s thoughts; and how all these ideas connect through the tape. With teamwork, the tape becomes a plaster. The plaster is an image of a patient getting help.

A story about the balance between thinking, doing and delivering. A visual story about arts and science working together. About helping each other to contribute towards a result that will hopefully improve people’s lives.

We also made a second, more upbeat version of the piece. You can view it here.

For a deeper dive into the creative process, click here.

This Christmas, as in previous years, we have made donations to our chosen charities.

We are supporting the UK charity Action MS.  Action MS maintains a highly successful fund-raising programme that supports research into multiple sclerosis, and an extensive range of care and support services to people and families living with MS. In addition, this year we have added The Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston to our list.

Both charities support research into serious, often incurable diseases – areas we have worked on extensively, and continue to do so.

Action MS was founded by a family member of our core team in the UK, and their family has had an active involvement in fundraising and volunteering for many years.

Also, we’re branching out and doing much more business in the US now. We thus felt it important to try to impact on the community over there too, not just take their business. Since a fair share of our work is in the oncology area, and is conducted by groupH associates in the Boston area, we are supporting the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.  Please take a look at our November 2012 post for our views and rationale on charitable giving, as part of our wider aspiration to create shared value.

Want to Dig Deeper?

Action MS

http://www.xiportal.com/actionms/?tabindex=1&tabid=171

Dana Faber Cancer Institute

http://www.dana-farber.org/How-to-Help.aspx