The Minotaur was the first of a series of animal - headed human figures. This was a looped performance installation. The performer wore a white bulls head through which he couldn't see, and moved through the space. A recorded spoken text consisted of fragments draw from myth, description and memory. Performer C. Shrubb
The Minotaur piece reflects a scene of isolation. The recorded voice that speaks into the space about the Minotaur is obviously not his (it's a woman's voice). The memories, confusion and myths it draws up - and vacuum of the empty space - becomes the creatures prison/maze. The animal head on a human body makes the performer mute. It emphasises his separation from the world of speech, communication and society.
I went on after this piece to make a number of animal headed figures. I liked the blankness of expression which makes it easy to project into a character emotionally. Also, animals are interesting to look at and to make. In retrospect I see that the theme of separation - in particular in relation to place and identity - had been present in quite a lot of my thinking, driving me to use the combination of human form and animal head a number of times.
I went on after this piece to make a number of animal headed figures. I liked the blankness of expression which makes it easy to project into a character emotionally. Also, animals are interesting to look at and to make. In retrospect I see that the theme of separation - in particular in relation to place and identity - had been present in quite a lot of my thinking, driving me to use the combination of human form and animal head a number of times.
Pig: Performance installation for the Cecil Sharp House May Fete, 2005. Cecil Sharp House is the home of the English Folk Dance And Song Society. The design of the head means the performer can hardly see, but she is able to smoke and drink beer. Smoke is blown out through the pig's nostrils. Performer Jenny Swindells.
Bellerophon 2003: with The Society Of Wonders. Top: Performer Ellan Parry. Bottom: Performers myself with Esme Bateson. Performers wear horse heads which I made as a response to set characters, the heads then became part of the devising process.
