Something Blocks the Doorway

Performance

Place: The Pharmacy, Scotland Road, Carlisle, England (SOMETHING Exhibition)

Duration: 3 hours continuous

Material: Human form dressed in blue shirt and black trousers, noise cancelling headphones, blindfold, white gallery wall, spotlight

8th November 2018

Fuelled by a motivation to highlight the problematic notion of inaccessibility, this performance operated through a simplistic economy of gesture and material. The venue, an exhibition space which previously functioned as a pharmacy, enabled me to become an allusive component within the space. I developed an antagonistic, physical altercation with a white exhibition wall. This would deny access to what used to be a doorway and would involve me repeatedly colliding with said wall as if said doorway was still operational. A once achievable gesture became entirely fruitless. Such would call attention to the historic function of the space and the inconsistencies presented by its current state.

Allow me to Explain

Performance/installation

Place: The Market Hall, Scotch Street, Carlisle, England (Anywhere & Here Exhibition)

Duration: 4 hours continuous

Material: Human form dressed in black, steel toe capped boot, rubber gloves, wooden board, soil, paper, chair, television on white plinth

31st August 2018

This performance referenced unseen labour through a physical restructuring of its key, fundamental components. In an effort to maintain an element of futility within my practice, the activity was designed to present, but never directly inform one of an occurrence. The space was segmented into three distinct parts, playing host to a mechanism, one intent on delivering suggestive information. To do this, I would physically engage with artefacts from said labour, sabotaging my own attempt at dispensing a vocal account of events and produce hand-drawn representational documents.

Vocal Sabotage

Video performance

2018

Introducing physical obstruction into my declaration of activity, I display a very conscious and purposeful attempt at vocal distortion. As not to compromise the futility of the action proceeding this exercise, I suppress the idea of individual expression, effectively removing my ability to communicate through a disruption of verbal delivery. I would re-purpose the components used in the performance being referred to; gloves, boots, my shirt, etc. Doing this, I presented everyday experiences and activities as legitimate performance material. Inviting the viewer to consider the role of contextual clarity when composing a record, as well as to question the authenticity of said record. One is placed in a scenario which promises a state of perplexing intimacy. The focus is this time directly on the artists face and the viewer is subjected to a momentary sharing of the unease exhibited by the subject on screen.

Video Confession

Video performance

2018

By engaging in this repetitive video narration, I would outline the paradoxical nature of the subject matter and my artistic methodologies. More specifically the concept of futility, an integral aspect of Sisyphean practices. Because of this, the work acts as a site responsive, institutional critique, simultaneously probing ideas of; audience participation, the reliability of recollection and the ontological considerations of live art. The overly emotional delivery of said accounts invites ambiguity, inviting one to consider the validity of what is being described.

One Must Imagine the Artist Happy

Performance

Place: Building Site, Scotforth Road, Lancaster, England

Duration: 30 minutes

Material: Human form wearing blue jeans, wooden board, rope, rock/rubble

3rd June 2018

This performance saw me occupy an environment under construction, all at once evident of a previous function and in a process of becoming. Doing so, I would practice a ritualistic absurdity, one which adopted a consideration of time and space in relation to intense physical strain. The exercise marked the my attempts at incorporating a degree of audience involvement into my work. The participant would place fragments of rock upon my back while vocalising any discomfort or general thought processes while doing so.

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Absurd Hero

Performance

Place: University of Cumbria, Institute of the Arts, Brampton Road, Carlisle, England

Duration: 9 hours continuous

Material: Human form dressed in heavy duty trousers, steel toe capped boots and t-shirt, rock, rope, wooden board, spotlight

31st October 2017

Adopting a Sisyphean functionality, this repetitive action contributed towards an ongoing, representational investigation its subject matter. Employing raw, ready-made materials, the experience played into the notion of the archetypal labourer – using said occupation to explore futility and endurance.

Provider

Performance

Place: University of Cumbria: Institute of the Arts, Brampton Road, Carlisle, England (IMAGO Exhibition)

Duration: 9 hours continuous, everyday for a week

Material: Human form, A5 cards, glass window, polythene sheet, spotlight

2017

Constructed as an interactive performance piece, Provider illustrated concerns of disconnection and dehumanisation. It attempted to reevaluate the function of the artist through a meditative approach to audience participation – enabling one to establish a great degree of control over their own experience.

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Struggle

Performance

Place: 27 Etterby Street, Carlisle, England

Duration: Between 15 – 30 minutes each time

Material: Naked human form, heavy duty polythene sheet

2017

A series of video performances, Struggle demonstrates man’s internal fight against the barriers of society while teasing the hopeful possibility of transcendence.

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