Once Upon Us. A cross-disciplinary conversation on ancestral memory.

On 27 June at Queen Mary University of London, audience and leading experts from different fields - from epigenetics to archeology, from psychology to wisdom traditions - engage in a thought-provoking conversation about the interplay of ancient and new theories on the theme of ancestral memory.

Conversation guests:
DARYA HAITOGLOU, Psychologist & Systemic Coach.
JENNY PISTELLA, Heritage Learning Consultant.
PROF. VARDHMAN RAKYAN, Epigenetics Professor and Research Leader at Blizard Institute.
YOGACHARIYA JNANDEV / SURENDRA KUMAR SAINI, Teacher of Rishi-culture Asht-anga and Raja Yoga.
Hosted by FRANCESCA LANDO, Artist and Founder of Immuto art collective.

DARYA HAITOGLOU is a Psychologist and Systemic Coach, author of Enrich Your Relationships Book and EYR Programme. www.daryahaitoglou.com

JENNY PISTELLA is a Heritage Learning Consultant and a PhD researcher and Teaching Associate in the Centre for the History of the Emotions, Queen Mary University London. The title of her thesis is ‘Heart of Stone: how do we learn about the emotional history of places and spaces? Jenny is passionate about providing access to and facilitating engagement with culture for all. She is interested in exploring how we can make museums, galleries and heritage sites relevant to people today. Jenny has over 13 years’ experience as a learning professional in the sector. Jenny is now a freelance Heritage Learning Consultant, working with clients such as the National Army Museum, Gunnersbury Park, Historic England and Culture& amongst others. She is a qualified Level 3 Assessor for the Diploma in Cultural Heritage and is the main Assessor for Culture&’s New Museum School traineeship programme. Jenny is also She is also the UK representative for ICOM Committee for Education and Cultural Action. www.jennypistella.com.

PROF. VARDHMAN RAKYAN has been pioneering epigenetics research since 1999 when he undertook his PhD on epigenetic inheritance at the University of Sydney under the supervision of Professor Emma Whitelaw. This was followed by a postdoctoral position at the Sanger Institute, UK under the guidance of Dr Stephan Beck, where he developed functional genomics tools for genome-wide DNA methylation analysis. Since 2007, Vardhman has led his own research group at the Queen Mary University of London’s Blizard Institute, focussing on how genes and environment interact to influence mammalian phenotypes.

YOGACHARIYA JNANDEV / SURENDRA KUMAR SAINI is a teacher of authentic Rishi-culture Asht-anga and Raja Yoga. Jnandev was born in India where he spent the first 33 years of his life, studying Yoga - deeply academically and experientially - under several Swamijis and becoming a Saddhu himself. Jnandev is a Co-Founder of Yoga Satsanga Ashram, based in Wales, the first Yoga Teacher Training school in the UK representing the Paramparai of Gitananda Yoga. Jnandev is also the author of several books about Traditional holistic Yoga and its importance and value in our lives. www.yogasatsang.org

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Once Upon Us is a composite art project by Immuto collective in collaboration with sound artist Alessandro Baldessari, choreographer Riccardo Buscarini and Queen Mary University of London.

Inspired by the latest medical research on how our environment influences our genetic expression and how memories could move across generations through DNA coding, Once Upon Us explores the blurring boundaries of our individuality across space and time.

From 26 June to 7 July on the front lawn of the Queen Mary’s Queens’ Building in Mile End, a participatory and sensory installation plays with our sense of space and of Self. The interaction of sound, reflections and changing light becomes a metaphor for the dance that involves the present we are, the past we contain and the future we are creating.

On 27 June, audience and leading experts from different fields (from epigenetics to archeology, from psychology to wisdom traditions) engage in a thought-provoking conversation about the interplay of ancient and new theories on the theme of ancestral memory.

On 2 July, artists and scientists from around the world come together in a playful evening to build a sculptural installation that questions how our choices shape our relationship with ourselves and the world around us.

Where and when do we start? Where and when do we end? Are the boundaries of who we are really as defined in time and space as we think?