One Month - Don Simmons

- Contemporary art performance / installation.
- The central object is a bed/display case, made from metal and two way mirrors, the mattress of the bed and occupant are positioned at eye level. The mattress and one occupant/performer is incased in a mirror/glass structure only allowing the performer to be seated up or lie down. The inside of the bed structure was lit with a small lamp making the interior box reflect infinitely; giving the performer within the ability to see his or her own reflection in this endless cold space. The rest of the gallery was dimly lit. The viewer was able to see the actions of the performer on the bed but the performer inside the cage was not be able to see the audience.

Another clown/queen, similarly depressed, was performing outside the display case with the same emotions in constant depression. Both clowns/queens attempted to entertain themselves but always failed. The exterior clown sometimes paused to observe the caged clown. Both clowns/queens never interact with the audience. They simply go about their own activity in their own depressed state.

The performers are all dressed as hybrid clown/drag queens. The costumes(make up and suits) of the performers are a hybrid between traditional clowning outfits and contemporary drag aesthetics(Leigh Bowery). The Clowns/Queens were instructed to perform as if in a state of insular depression.

The gallery was filled with audio sampled and remixed from dramatic international films that deal with depression and loss. The complete soundtrack ia approximately 70 minutes and was played as a continuously loop in the gallery. Contact microphones were placed inside the display case, hence amplifying the audio from the movements and actions of the clown within.

Some influences for this living sculpture piece are the work of Gilbert & George, Leigh Bowery, Vanessa Beecroft, Judith Bulter, Mike Kelley, Dan Graham, Paul McCarthy and Chantal Rousseau. Concepts of duality, gender and mediation theory are explored in this one month piece.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• contemporary
• art
• Don
• Simmons
• performance
• installation
• living
• sculpture
• gender
• bending
• drag
• queens
• clowns
• make-up
• bed

[wayney]

Even the traffic sounds are the same as the Offney gallery presentation using Leigh Bowery - I can understand the concept of influence but this is almost identical

[DonSimmons]

That's a pretty surface read of both One Month and the Bowery piece. I'm a bit confused about what you said. It could be copying the copy or remixing the remix or faking the fake. What does originality have to do with art anyway?

[destructionzWOW]

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[jakegeoffchaseorothe]

you guys are too deep. those who commented before me... come back, guys you are too deep. come back guys, you are too, deep.

[freeskier93]

PLEASE DON'T READ THIS. You will get kissed on the nearest possible Friday by the love of your life. Tomorrow will be the best day of your life. However, if you don't post this comment to at least 3 videos, you will die within 2 days. Copy and paste this, to be saved

[bumblebert]

I love the sound. Sound like David Lynch did it. lol.

[MikikiandGuest]

also- cornelia parker's collaboration with actress tilda swinton- The Maybe (1995)

I thought your bone structure was WAY more tilda than leigh, just a bit heavy on the foundation

;)

[abeferraro]

Intense shit Don...your events are a surrealist's nightmare...you draw from many early performance artists, throw them in a blender, and add some extras for good measure. This stuff is bound to have a real shock value on the uneducated Artists & layman.

[wayney]

mmmm .... I simply felt the need to draw comparisons between the 2 peices of work and it was fairly easy to do. Even your 'model' is troubling themself with their clothing as Leigh did. I take your point about my observations being 'surface' and I'm cool with that.