At 2 p.m. this afternoon at Arc, the arts centre in Stockton, performer Gillian Lees will undertake a durational piece titled *Balance* alongside her collaborator and husband, Adam York Gregory. The work involves Lees standing at one end of a seesaw-like plank while wielding a hammer and chisel to slowly chip away at a concrete block positioned at the opposite end. The goal is to reduce the block’s mass to equal Lees’ own weight, establishing a physical equilibrium and serving as a "sculptural equivalent" or self-portrait of the performer, according to the artists.

Unlike traditional portraiture, the work does not aim for visual likeness; instead, it focuses on the process and endurance inherent in the act of creation. Lees and Gregory describe the piece as an open-ended endeavor rather than a task with a definitive endpoint. “If it was task-based I might be there six weeks,” Lees said, noting that it could also end abruptly if the block were to crack. Previously, a similar version of the work lasted six hours in Lancaster, during which Lees maintained a steady rhythm of chipping away at the concrete.

The artists express some hesitation about labeling *Balance* a "performance," with Gregory characterizing it simply as "Gill holding a hammer and chisel chipping away at a brick." Lees concurs, emphasizing the absence of artifice or theatricality in the work. She observes that while adults may search for additional layers of meaning, children tend to engage with the piece more directly and openly, recounting moments from past presentations where young audiences watched with unfiltered attention.

Lees and Gregory have collaborated on durational performance projects for several years. One early work, *Constants and Variables*, involved Lees methodically transferring ink from one set of bottles to another while wearing a white paper dress. The piece prompted genuine curiosity from a young audience member, who simply praised her effort before moving on.

Lees’ artistic background includes training as a dancer and studies in contemporary performance at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Her interest in prolonged performances was sparked by witnessing a piece in Glasgow called *On Everest*, where a performer continuously walked in a confined space, embodying the climber’s final ascent. The experience impressed upon her the intrinsic challenge and excitement of endurance work, performed not for applause but as a personal test.

Gregory, originally from Lancashire, holds a degree in biochemistry but shifted his focus toward the arts through animation and literary interests. The couple met when Lees sought scientific expertise for a project, which led to their creative partnership and subsequent marriage. Their collaboration involves ongoing dialogues blending artistic and conceptual inquiry, shaping works that explore time, effort, and balance.