THEMSELVES HERE TOGETHER rehearsal

As the preview of my exhibition THEMSELVES HERE TOGETHER draws nearer, I am busy doing the last minute preparations. These always seem to take much longer than expected, and regardless of how well-prepared I am, my list of things to do continues to grow.

This afternoon Sarah and I met for a final rehearsal and to go through some logistical arrangements. Sarah and I discussed her performance, they showed me their costume and they ran through a version of the performance. We gathered together everything that needs to be taken to The Word and loaded these items into Edwin's car.                 

                                                                                         

Reshooting spinning animation

Over the past few days I have been learning how to use the green screen and chroma keying in order remove a specific colour from a video scene and replace it (keyed) with a different element. This is what broadcasters use when they replace the original background with an alternative background.

I want to create an animation of a figure spinning, and for it to be projected into a space so that it appears that the figure is in the space where the work is being played.

I used the green screen to record me spinning, but when editing the footage it was not possible to remove all the green as there was a green halo around me.

My next trial was recording me spinning in front of a black background and floor. The colour black cannot be projected, and so in theory, when I project the footage of the figure spinning against a black background, it should seem like the figure is spinning against a transparent background (and hence it would look like the figure was in the space where it is being viewed).

It is surprising how much black fabric is needed in order for the whole of the figure to remain in front of the black for the duration of the spinning. I used 2 different types of black fabric and found that one was too reflective but the other worked well as it was matt black.

I then tried setting up in a room with black walls, and covered the floor with the matt black material. This was successful, but the black walls were not quite black enough to produce the effect that I need.

I also tried wearing a different outfit. Rather than wearing black clothing which could appear rather dull and serious, I wore my orange dungarees and a teal blue jumper as well as the orange funnel I made for a previous performance. I wanted to try to avoid the video being read as a comment on body image and the female figure, and changing my outfit helped with this. The bright colours and sculptural cone also added to the aesthetic of the work. Wearing the funnel on my head is extremely disorientating because my sight is restricted. This makes it even harder to maintain my balance when I am spinning, and I think this is apparent in the footage. I like that the footage references a certain type of struggle, but does so with a sense of lightheartedness.

I am now going to source some more matt black material and cover the wall and floor in this. I will then record me spinning and will wear the orange cone and outfit.

Outfits for Circus Between Worlds performance

The two characters in my performance for Circus Between Worlds have matching outfits, but in different colours. In keeping with the Circus Between Worlds colour palette, I have chosen two bright but distinctive colours; blue and orange so as to clearly differentiate both characters and for them to stand out and be easily visible.

I want the outfits to be fairly easy to move in, practical, and something that both male and female performers can wear. My choice, belt and braces.

I really struggled to get small sized belt and braces for me to wear. There is a distinct lack of these made for females.                                                

Before

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Since there was little choice of colours, and certainly none that fitted the Circus Between Worlds colour palette, I bought some ink and dyed the fabric orange.

I am delighted with the results:

After

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Circus Between Worlds rehearsal - the boob lady makes an appearance

The Newcastle Circus Between Worlds troupe met tonight to show Neil and Zoe what we are working on. The NCL troupe consists of artists Olivia Turner, Stella Dixon, Deanna Smith, Sarah Grundy, Charlie Dearnley and me. Katy Bentham is also involved - Katy is an artist but rather than creating a performance for the event, she has kindly offered to assist us with our performances.

Over the next few days and weeks I will be profiling each of the artists in the Newcastle troupe, starting with Stella Dixon.

Her practice specifically addresses issues regarding the objectification of women in popular culture through the use of performance, video and photography. 

Stella Anne Dixon is a Newcastle based artist who specifically addresses issues regarding

the

objectification of women in popular culture through the use of performan

ce, video and

photography.

Stella Dixon will be performing as Boob lady.

She writes, "Using exaggerated motifs, I have created a character whose limbs have been manipulated to highlight the organs of the body that are most associated with female objectification. The aim of the work is to use the modified female form to create something new, a creature that is a product of society."



The costume construction is progressing well, and Stella tried out some moves as Boob lady.

Trying out costume ideas for Circus Between Worlds

Given that my original proposal induced horrid feelings of nausea for the performers, I am further developing my ideas for my performance that will be part of Circus Between Worlds in Glasgow International Festival of Visual Art in April. 

I am interested in creating sculptural forms for the performers to wear that a restrictive in some way. 

This funnel shape blocks out all peripheral vision, and impacts on the performers spatial awareness.

Costumes from Cirque Du Soleil

For my Circus Between Worlds performance I'm thinking about possible options for costumes, and have been researching examples. Cirque Du Soleil are masters at creating striking, sculptural and Surrealist costumes. Here are a few that particularly caught my eye.

http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Los_Angeles_Entertainment_109/cirque-du-soleil-iris-review.php

http://www.disunplugged.com/2011/10/15/iris-a-marriage-classique-of-cirque-d-soleil-and-hollywood/

https://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/promo/dream-weavers/home.aspx

https://vikkikidd.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/cirque-du-soleil-dominique-lemieux/

http://www.fashionoffice.org/film/2007/cirquedusoleil11-2007.htm

"Veteran designer Eiko Ishioka is the mastermind behind Varekai’s costumes. Using a unique combination of moleskin (Lycra), along with flexible titanium rods and fire-resistant materials, Ishioka transforms the human body to allow for extreme acrobatic techniques."

http://dfwstyledaily.com/2014/02/21/cirque-du-soleils-varekai-spins-into-frisco-costumes-steal-the-show/

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/275634439670649395/