Performance for a man (prop cupboard)

The prop cupboard; an essential part of any traditional stage production. The props used to enhance a performers’ dialogue, and give context to a scene, are stored meticulously in labelled drawers and on catalogued shelves. The space is often cramped to enhance efficiency, but to select individuals there is a clear layout amongst the organised chaos.

In the installation Performance for a man (prop cupboard), the relationship is viewed as a performance and the artefacts from these  interactions, the props. The cupboard is both a physical space and a reproduction of the artist’s bedroom, which is also small and cupboard-like in appearance. Tacky tulle fairy lights are used to light the painting Mosquito Feeding which has been painted on painter’s silk, making it semi-transparent. Beneath Mosquito Feeding is another canvas depicting a figure who is partially revealed as the light shines between both pieces. The painting replaces the mirror in the bedroom’s layout as it reflects the artist’s personal thoughts on the relationship being considered here.