“ BIJOUX “ Screening at OCAD University’s 113 Research Labs, (113 McCaul, MCC Annex Building, 5th Floor)
May 1 - Sept 30, 2024
Curated by Lauchlin MacQuarrie
“ ‘ Call Me Bijoux ‘ was a scripted, solo performance piece performed in Summer 2023. Texture and form were central to the design, as I attempted to conjure the sensations of underground nightclubs and cabaret spaces that no longer exist in quite the same way. I mined my own history; I came of age in nightclubs after first discovering them at 18. I immersed myself in the mostly hidden world and was enchanted by the history of burlesque and striptease. This performance was conceived as both a live event and a film, which I have attempted to convey in this short video work.
Although texture can’t be experienced in two dimensions, it was central to my concept of the performance. I carefully selected fabric which I knew would move in specific ways, or communicate an experience to viewers, which can be seen in this video. Silk shimmers like liquid, and sequins reflects light like fish scales. Color is of course an additional element of communication, the stage is floodlit from above in red in the introduction, in the conclusion a single violet overhead light casts harsh shadow. I consider performance as an embodied practice, with the setting itself a critical component. Although viewing the work in a gallery is completely different than encountering it in a dark nightclub, it can still temporarily transport viewers to that enchanting world.” [In conversation with Lauchlin MacQuarrie, April 2024]