Taking cue from the critical writings of Griselda Pollock and Judith Butler my practice explores gender, subjectivity and representation as an inter-related set of issues. Using performance, photography, film, costume and ceramics I emphasise the unfixity and fluidity of subjectivity. I do this through the representation of myself in a variety of guises that reference western cultural archetypes and stereotypes. Initially I focused on masquerades of femininity emphasising the constructedness of that gendered positioning, that is, woman as an unnatural product of social engineering as opposed to a natural, essential condition. However more recently I have been including the equally constructed male gender, as other to my socially ascribed femininity. Although more difficult to perform authentically I have begun to develop a series of male guises as well as performing metamorphoses of gender within a binary frame of difference. The purpose in this development is to demonstrate the ease with which each socially ascribed, hetero-normative gender can be performed, enacted and taken on irrespective of the biology beneath. The aim is an ongoing attempt to reveal the fallacy of our gendered subjectivity that we so utterly believe is the true essence of who we are. The work hopes to affect the viewer, forcing them to consider their existential selves and to ultimately estrange them from such notions of self. This should result in the engendering of an exploration, possibly fruitless, probably impossible, into what we can be beneath the constructions dominant hegemonies employ for the purposes of social control; constructions we readily and blindly accept and perpetuate as though there were no other ontological possibilities.
CV
Education: 2010
University of Glamorgan Art Practice BA First Class Honours
Group Exhibitions:
September 2010
University of Glamorgan Purchase Prize, Ty Crawshay Galleries.
August 2010
The Cabinet Particular Photographic Series in Collaboration with Helene Roberts, Mock Up Pop Up Inside Outside, A1 Gallery, Edinburgh.
The Cement Garden Installation in Collaboration with Helene Roberts, Cardiff. University of Glamorgan Purchase Prize, Millennium Centre, Cardiff.
July 2010
Glam'd Out, tactileBOSCH, Cardiff.
June 2010
Photography Exhibition, Curated by Kim Fielding, Howard Gardens, Cardiff.
May 2010
Chav at First Sight Performance with Tom Goddard, After the End, Elysium, Swansea.
Chav at First Sight Performance with Tom Goddard, Citizen, tactileBOSCH, Cardiff.
April 2010
Chav at First Sight Performance with Tom Goddard, Micro Fringe Festival, Swansea.
March 2010
3D Exhibition, Ty Crawshay Galleries, University of Glamorgan.
The Reading Room, Performative Installation in Collaboration with Caroline Deacon, Grangetown Library, Cardiff.
Women's Art Association Annual Exhibition, Barry Town Hall.
February 2010
Gender Performance, Squeeze MA exhibition, tactileBOSCH.
Women Centre Stage, Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea.
January 2010
Through the Lens Media, tactileBOSCH, Cardiff.
Found Objects Photographic Exhibition, Curated by Kim Fielding, Ty Crawshay Galleries, University of Glamorgan.
September 2009
Live Performance on the Fourth Plinth, Trafalgar Square, Antony Gormley's One & Other.
July 2009
Facing the Future Photography Exhibition at Elysium Gallery, Swansea.
Curation:
August 2010
Assistant to Ceri Thomas, Glamorgan Purchase Prize Millennium Centre, Cardiff.
July 2010
Assistant Curator, The Cambrian Society Pt. II, Ty Crawshay Galleries, Glamorgan. Coordinator, Glam'd Out, Glamorgan Graduate Show, tactileBOSCH, Cardiff.
March 2010
Co-Curator, The Reading Room, Collaboration with Caroline Deacon Featuring Performances by 16 Artists, Grangetown Library, Cardiff.
Co-Curator, 3D Exhibition in Collaboration with Ceri Thomas, Ty Crawshay Galleries, Glamorgan.
January 2010
Coordinator, Found Objects Student Photography Exhibition Curated by Kim Fielding, Ty Crawshay Galleries, Glamorgan.
August 2009
Co-Curator with Ceri Thomas & Julie Matthews for the Joan Baker Retrospective Exhibition, Ty Crawshay Galleries, Glamorgan.
Assistant to Ceri Thomas with the 2009 University of Glamorgan Purchase Prize, Ty Crawshay Galleries, Glamorgan.
July 2009
Assistant to Ceri Thomas with the 2009 University of Glamorgan Purchase Prize, Cardiff Millennium Centre.
Co-Curating with Ceri Thomas, 4 + 4, Ty Crawshay Galleries, Glamorgan.
Professional Experience:
August 2010
Children's Art Workshops, Cardiff Millennium Centre.
Secretary to the Board tactileBOSCH.
July 2010
Exhibition Marketing, Graduate Shows, University of Glamorgan. Catalogue & Website Art Object Photographer University of Glamorgan.
1999-2010
Business Planning Self-Employed
Texts:
April 2010
Review: Reduplication of the Real, ArtArtArt Magazine.
March 2010
Review: Marius Grainger, Not Drowning But Waving, Milkwood Gallery.
August 2009
Article: 'Gender & the Figure in the Works of Joan Baker' in Joan Baker: A Retrospective by Ceri Thomas (Treforest: University of Glamorgan, 2009).
Article with Julie Matthews, 'A Sense of Intimacy in Joan Baker's Landscape Painting' in Joan Baker: A Retrospective by Ceri Thomas (Treforest: University of Glamorgan, 2009).
July 2009
Review: Glamorgan Graduate Show, ArtArtArt Magazine.
Exhibition Text: 4 + 4 Exhibition Text Ty Crawshay Gallery, University of Glamorgan.
May 2009
Review: Ian Grainger (Printmaker) Review, Bute Street Gallery, Cardiff.
Awards: July 2010
The Alison Waite Memorial Award for Academic Excellence.
University of Glmaorgan Purchase Prize (Student) Shortlist.
May 2010
Arts Council Brian Ross Memorial Fund Shortlist.
November 2009
SAFLE Graduate Award Nomination
Links:
http://tactilebosch.co.uk/category/archive/
Since opening its doors in June 2000 in a converted 200-year-old former laundry house, tactileBOSCH Gallery & Studios has developed into one of the main players in the Welsh Arts scene with an impressive back catalogue and experimental approach. The venue was established by artists Kim Fielding and Simon Mitchell and has received support through the years from Cardiff based artists and curators such as Andrew Cooper, Jan Bennett, Mike Murray, Tim Bromage, Tom Harrup, Graham Phillips, Phillip Babot, Sam Aldridge, Neil Jefferies and Dave Shepherd as well as organizations such as National Probation Service, Arts Council of Wales, Culture Colony, & UWIC.
What is it to be human in the 21st century? The human condition might describe how we respond to both traumatic and joyous events that befall us as we mark our passage of time. Art and artists such as these may not provide the answers to this question, but perhaps more importantly, they will share their personal life experiences and empathise with you on a universal level.
http://www.elysiumgallery.com/
An artist led organisation run by professional volunteers promoting the work of emerging artists.
http://www.skyarts.co.uk/site/plinth/?id=34
SkyArts Highlight of my One & Other Performance.
Website for artist Tom Goddard
