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Had a beautifully epic last studio visit with @adelaide.bannerman (her pics) yesterday in my @acme.art studio via @auscouncilarts. These six months in London have been such an expansive time connecting with lovely people, a solo show at the excellent and important @198_cal that got seen by the people I have in mind creating my work, putting on a spectacular event critiquing the institutional circus featuring some of my fave performers and collaborating with a heap of rad desis for my Bollywouldn’t series. It’s going to be surreal to not be in this saturating town anymore. I’ve felt part of something, and it’s felt like a special time to be here. Looking forward to returning ‘home’ and my studio to work on my Bollywouldn’t large scale works. I’ll be showing the epic piece ‘Retribution’ I created in London there in November, details soon.
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Shaking some cares away. Familiar as well as fresh challenges swelled up this last week that may have left me spinning more at other times in my life, but feeling blessed for the love and support surrounding me, including these last five months in London on residency making stuff and sharing space with people living and creating with integrity and care.
Images from a very different residency at Point Nepean National Park, Boon Wurrung country in 2016. [image description: A series of photos of a brown femme from torso up, shaking back and forth, half draped in green, yellow and tan seaweed and kelp and holding another cluster in one hand, backdropped by a dusky beach, sky streaked withe orange and dark grey clouds]
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Such a beautiful night with these lovelies (plus Jacob V Joyce not pictured) at The Circus of The Oppressed. So often showing work drawing on your intersecting identities happens in white walled spaces that put you in a hall of mirrors situation where all the things you experience at yr intersections that had you make the work, happen back onto your body and your work and others who are there because they relate to the work. Last night was an overload of sustaining reflections instead thanks to everyone involved. Thank you so much @jacobvjoyce @krishnaistha @lasana_shabazz @travisalabanza @yea.mattie for an unforgettable eve – I am betting for everyone who came. Snippets in my story, may post more soon. Thanks to my dear ones behind the scenes Jasmin, @nineyamamoto @patchworkpoet and everyone who attended bringing such warmth. And thanks to Michelle & @acme.art and @auscouncilarts for the support [Image description: Five black and brown cuties in colourful and/or queer attire beam with smiles and various cheesy poses, spotlighted in a gallery space-turned-stage, backed by gold and silver balloons and a circus themed marker artwork @acme.art
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Last night @space_studios_london: The Progressive Arts Institution prefers The Circus of the Oppressed, presented by current Australia Council for the Arts (@auscouncilarts) resident @textaqueen. Featuring performances by @krishnaistha @jacobvjoyce @lasana_shabazz @travisalabanza and Ring Master @yea.mattie
Photo: @michelleussher 🔥
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Tonight in Hackney! (The Progressive Arts Institution prefers) The Circus of the Oppressed! Debuting new work and showing this previous gem from my in-progress series alongside a wonderful line up of performers. I’ve tamed and trained the circus as allegory to satirically describe experiences of minority artists in institutional contexts! Born out of my year as a State Library of Victoria Creative @Library_Vic Fellow where I studied the Library archives of circus, magic and political posters and created in conceptual collaboration with 10gentle collective.
The Circus of The Oppressed
6-9pm Tuesday 2nd July
@space_studios_london
SPACE 129-131 Mare St, Hackney, London E8 3RH
Wheelchair accessible
Marvellous Marginalised Artists Perform Inspiring Acts of Fearless Resilience!
Works on paper by TextaQueen and performances by @KrishnaIstha, @JacobVJoyce @LasanaShabazz and @TravisAlabanza, plus Mattie Loyce @Yea.Mattie as your Ring Master. This event is supported by @auscouncilarts and @acme.art [Image description: Marker drawing imitating a vintage circus poster. A brown femme in red and gold acrobat outfit on a tiger leaps through a flaming picture frame to shake hands with a white tuxedoed ringmaster with red tie and white top hat with tick box. Gallery lights spotlight them. The text reads “The progressive arts institution prefers The Circus of The Oppressed / Minority artists bring the political heat / yet contain the / flame within the frame”. In a star is “diversity without adversity” and at bottom “Astounding art to liberally inspire your forward-thinking fire. living curiosities create enticing artifacts of their fearless resilience and then perform grand acts of gratitude for your generous appreciation. Witness wild beasts tamed & trained to never bite the hand that feed them”. The red border is dotted with white tick boxes]
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Tomorrow Tuesday 2nd July, can’t wait to see @travisalabanza perform at The Circus of The Oppressed alongside a couple of my works on paper… Travis Alabanza is a performer, writer and theatre maker. In the last two years they have been noted by numerous publications, such as ARTSY, ID AND MOBO _AWARDS, as one of the most prominent emerging queer artistic voices, and also listed in OUT as an influential queer figure, appeared in campaigns with MAC X ASOS and performed across the country and internationally. Their unique mixture of performance, poetry, style, political views and risk taking performances has given them a unique placement both nationally and internationally.
The Circus of the Oppressed Tuesday 2nd July @space_studios_london! 6-9pm.
SPACE 129-131 Mare St, Hackney, London E8 3RH. Wheelchair accessible.
Marvellous Marginalised Artists Perform Inspiring Acts of Fearless Resilience!
Works on paper by @TextaQueen and performances by @KrishnaIstha, @JacobVJoyce @Lasana_Shabazz and @TravisAlabanza, plus Mattie Loyce @Yea.Mattie as your RingMaster.
This event is supported by @AusCouncilArts and @Acme.Art [Image description: Marker portrait of a light brown-skinned black non binary person with curls falling from high on their head to ear, they have one hand above forehead and the other against their cheek and wear a 90s blue and pink patterned outfit. They emerge from a red oval with yellow lights. The background is light and lighter blue thick curvy lines with yellow stars
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Thrilled that in a few days @Lasana_Shabazz performs at The Circus of the Oppressed! Lasana Shabazz is a performance artist, writer and director whose work incorporates theatre, dance, spoken word, visual art. They work in art galleries, theatres, arts festivals, museums, educational institutions Black, queer and QTIPOC art spaces internationally. (The Progressive Arts Institution prefers) The Circus of the Oppressed on Tuesday 2nd July @space_studios_london! 6-9pm.
SPACE 129-131 Mare St, Hackney, London E8 3RH. Wheelchair accessible.
Marvellous Marginalised Artists Perform Inspiring Acts of Fearless Resilience!
Works on paper by @TextaQueen and performances by @KrishnaIstha, @JacobVJoyce @Lasana_Shabazz and @TravisAlabanza, plus Mattie Loyce @Yea.Mattie as your RingMaster.
This event is supported by @AusCouncilArts and @Acme.Art [Image description: Marker portrait in profile of a black person with shaved head, their face and head painted white, they wear a white feather boa and white corset their dark brown arm is at their side. The digital background is light and lighter blue thick curvy lines with yellow stars
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Excited that in under a week @JacobVJoyce performs at The Circus of the Oppressed! Only a few tickets left, link in bio. Honoured that such an awesome line up of performers agreed to show their talents alongside my works on paper.
Jacob V Joyce is a non-binary interdisciplinary artist that disrupts commercial and community spaces with queer and decolonial, creative interventions. Jacob’s work brings satirical and theatrical critiques to institutional and every day instances of marginalisation. As well as self-publishing a number of illustrated books addressing a variety of political issues, Jacob performs spoken word and solo electronic music which combines ritualistic voice looping with poetic strategies of resistance. (The Progressive Arts Institution prefers) The Circus of the Oppressed on Tuesday 2nd July @space_studios_london! It’s a free event but booking is recommended via Eventbrite. 6-9pm
SPACE 129-131 Mare St, Hackney, London E8 3RH. Wheelchair accessible.
Marvellous Marginalised Artists Perform Inspiring Acts of Fearless Resilience!
Works on paper by @TextaQueen and performances by @KrishnaIstha, @JacobVJoyce @Lasana_Shabazz and @TravisAlabanza, plus Mattie Loyce @Yea.Mattie as your Ring Master.
Thanks to @Daniella_vg for offering some of her creations to decorate the space.
This event is supported by @AusCouncilArts and @Acme.Art [Image description: Marker portrait of a non binary light-brown-skinned black femme in purple and green patterned head wrap, vocalising into microphone. They wear a yellow tank tshirt with green and red blobby figures, popping out of a red oval with yellow lights. The digital background is light and lighter blue thick curvy lines
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It’s just over a week until Krishna Istha performs at (The Progressive Arts Institution prefers) The Circus of the Oppressed on Tuesday 2nd July!
Krishna Istha is a London based performer, writer, live artist and theatre maker. Their practice looks at transformations (physical/political/collaborative), gender politics & queer culture using subversive text, cabaret elements & comedy. They have performed extensively across the UK, Germany, Australia and USA in works that span across theatre, opera, comedy and performance art.
Krishna’s most recent solo show, Beast, directed by Barry Award winning comedian Zoe Coombs Marr, is a trans stand-up comedy show, a self-help comedy for the oppressed. It was commissioned by the city of Melbourne through Arts House, was developed through Culture Lab and is supported by public funds from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
The Circus of The Oppressed
6-9pm Tuesday 2nd July
@space_studios_london
SPACE 129-131 Mare St, Hackney, London E8 3RH
Wheelchair accessible
It’s a free event but booking is recommended via Eventbrite. link in bio.
Marvellous Marginalised Artists Perform Inspiring Acts of Fearless Resilience!
Works on paper by TextaQueen and performances by @KrishnaIstha, @JacobVJoyce @LasanaShabazz and @TravisAlabanza, plus Mattie Loyce @Yea.Mattie as your Ring Master. This event is supported by @auscouncilarts and @acme.art [Image description: Marker portrait of a topsy turvy brown skinned person with black hair wearing a long sleeved yellow shirt and blue three quarter length pants tumbling out of a red oval with even yellow lights. The background is light and lighter blue thick curved lines and shapes
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Opening this week, I have a few works in Continental Shift: Contemporary Art and South Asia at Bunjil Place Gallery, Patrick Northeast Drive, Narre Warren, Bunurong/Wurundjeri land. Featured artists include Khadim Ali, Kate Beynon, Michael Candy, Peter Drew, Richard Goodwin, Trent Jansen & Ishan Khosla, Reena Saini Kallat, Shivanjani Lal, Ramesh Mario Nithiyendran; Nusra Latif Qureshi, Sangeeta Sandrasegar, Adeela Suleman and myself, TextaQueen!The show runs Saturday 22 June – Sunday 22 September 2019. Thanks @arti_shivanjani for the photo of Speak, No?, 2017 installed [Image description: A framed large marker drawing on paper rests on white blocks on wood floor. The portrait is off a medium brown skinned femme from armpits up with a rhesus monkey on their shoulders. The monkey screams whilst covering the person’s mouth with their paws. In the background are the backs of seven heads of seven femmes, each draped in different coloured Indian fabrics]
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I’m exhibiting a selection of works from Eve of Incarnation at Gazes and Spaces 20-25 June at queer qandī fest an arts and activism festival in Cambridge. As part of the festival I’ll be speaking on a panel 530pm 20 June at Waterstones with Dr Nour Abu Assad, Dr Senthorun Raj and Ornella Ospino. Thanks @qti_coalition for the invitation Image: detail of Ignitor, 2016 [Image description: A brown femme stands leaning back majestically in golden light on a yellow sandy shore amongst dry tree branches or trees rising from sand. Their naked body is draped in strands of brown kelp and they hold a divining rod in one hand. The low horizon of ocean is deep blue-green and the cloudy sky is various shades of dusky blue]
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