Strange Business - Solo show at Ortega Y Gasset 

Curated by Catherine Haggarty and Zahar Vaks


Strange Business introduces three characters moving throughout a corporate office space. The characters' costumes are inspired by my sculptures. The form of the sculptures in my studio and the costumes in this video are taken from a scaled up version of the control top; the top of a pair of pantyhose intended to conceal, contain and smooth a woman's pelvic area. Scaling up allowed me to contrast the purpose of the control top, these characters are "out of control" and take up space, they're awkwardly and unabashedly powerful. The fabric that the costumes are made is of importance, it speaks to women's wear, power suits and lingerie. Each control top has a leather crotch, adding an erotic or kinky appeal. Using this form to dictate the shape of these uncanny characters in Strange Business helps me to illuminate the ways in which items of clothing denote power, gender and profession. Though the characters are lustrous, colorful and animated, they reject the male gaze completely. 


In a banal corporate setting the three characters of Strange Business embody coworkers in a surreal and satirical way, moving through monotonous tasks synonymous with office work. The video charts feminine power and camaraderie in the workplace. 

 

Strange Business
2018
Installation view at Ortega Y Gasset Projects
Strange Business
2018
video still
Strange Business
2018
Installation view at Ortega Y Gasset Projects
Tycoon
2018
fabric, thread, batting, dowel
Strange Business
2018
Installation at Ortega Y Gasset Projects
Bullet Blazer
2018
fabric, thread, batting, dowel, rope
Tuxie
2017
fabric, thread, batting, dowel, rope
Control Tops: Elegance, Grace and Charm with Strange Business video
2018
Control Tops: Mirth, Elegance, Grace and Charm with Strange Business video
2018
sculptures and single channel video
Installation view at Ortega Y Gasset Projects
Control Top: Beauty Installation View
2018
Strange Business
2018
video still
Strange Business
2018
video still
Strange Business
2018
video still