Archive for category Performance

Khon Dance in 1931

I am doing some research for an adaptation of Ramayana and find this intriguing video of Thai Classical Khon in 1931. And it blows me away.

Brief explanation: Indrachit, a son of Totsakan, is called for a battle with Laxman. He transforms himself as Indra and rides Erawan Elephant. Hanuman fights and beheads its neck.

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Betcha Thought I Was Dead

This entry is part 9 of 10 in the series Mardi Gras 2009

After The Undressing Room, another show for Mardi Gras bumped in right away at The Factory Theatre. Weird is the word to explain Betcha Thought I Was Dead.

Betch Thought I Was Dead

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Joan Collins (acclaimed sex therapist, psychic guidance counsellor and mental health professional) tracks down Joylene Thornbird Hairmouth (former Diva, rock goddess and federal senate candidate) in the Wagga Wagga Women’s Maximum Security Psychiatric Correctional Facility where she has been incarcerated for the past 23 years! Find out why and how when Brent Thorpe and Billy O’Riordan join forces to bring their own brand of deranged performance to Sydney audiences.

You might want to check out some images from The Fabulous Punch and Judy Show as well. Betcha Thought I Was Dead is performing at The Factory Theatre until 22 February 2009.

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The Undressing Room

This entry is part 1 of 10 in the series Mardi Gras 2009

I said I would not be photographing Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras events this year but things changed. I was invited in the last minute. This time I was assigned to one of the Festival venues, The Factory Theatre.

It started off with The Undressing Room with Imogen Kelly:

Imogen Kelly is Australia’s Queen of Burlesque, plaything of millionaires and notorious member of the demimonde. Although she is known as Australia’s premier showgirl- be warned, Imogen is a more of a burlesque saboteur than a museum piece.

The Undressing Room is performing at The Factory Theartre until 22 February 2009.

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DVD Killed the Video Star

So Long Cathy from ApostrophePong on Vimeo.

The holiday season is just around the corner and everyone is almost in the party mode. At The Vanishing Point Contemporary Art, is calling for time-based art proposals for their fund raiser X’mas party. When I see the theme, DVD Killed the Video Star, I just have to get So Long Cathy to them. And it will be featured on the gallery’s shop window on the party week. It is a really good exposure. In fact, this will the first time that this work is displayed to the public. And this is another work I have exhibited here this year. Earlier Sticky was awarded a Commended in CALD Category at Marrickville Contemporary Art Prize.

DVD Killed the Video Star

The ATVP X’mas & fun(d) raiser for 2009

$10 Entry

Thursday 4 December, 6-10 pm

565 King Street, Newtown

(02) 9519 2340

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Blowing Whistles

Out of the blue, I am contacted by Focus Theatre and asked for my photography of Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Party in their production of Blowing Whistles in Sydney, Adelaide and London. I say why not. Blowing Whistles is about contemporary gay culture. Two men is celebrating their tenth anniversary relationship on the eve of Mardi Gras and cruising for another guy online. That changes their lives forever.

I have not seen the show and am curious how my photographs are put in the show. London show is adapted for the local scene but they could not find suitable London gay party scene images for it. So they use mine which you cannot really identify specific scenes anyway. That makes me think how you put yourself into what you see and photograph.

For the past couple of years, I believe that we, a group of Flickr’s Sydney PhotoBloggers and photography students, has brought a new level of how the events can be documented and expressed on photography via Robert McGrath of Darlinghurst ArtSpace. However, they still choose happy snappy shots and publish them on their photo galleries after all. I take my viewers to explore the other side: up-close, candid and chaotic. Of course, they will not appear in a place that tries to sell you party tickets.

I always ask questions about being a queer. It seems too easy to be who you are these days. We almost have everything that we have been standing for: acceptance, equality and so on. What next when we have all of those. What are we going to fight for when we get the rights as any other people. Although we have passed the point that no one gives a damn of your gender, age, race or sexual preference, there still is discrimination agianst everything at some level even within gay & lesbien community itself. It is time to see ourselves and stop asking for those rights but start acting as we deserve them with respect. Yes, respect. If we want one, we have give one also.

Blowing Whistles is showing in Sydney until 15 November at Darlinghurst Theatre and will be a part of Feast Festival 08, Adelaide, at Bake House Theatre, 18-23 November. And it is showing in London until 29 November at Leicester Square Theatre.

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