| :: Asylum Reception:
A review from behind the lens. @ The Arts Project by: Matt (Thursday Asylum Reception: A review from behind the lens. By Matthew MacCallum Having been approached by members of the I Was Cured suspension group to, once again, lend my talents as a videographer to their show featured during the reception of Asylum at The Arts Project. I quickly accepted knowing that this show would greatly differ from both their club, and private shows that I have attended in the past. This was a chance for the group to display their craft as performance art rather than, as a few of the members so eloquently put it, “freaks hanging from hooks.” Within moments of the doors opening, the room was filled. The crowd was not only much larger than expected, its possibly the largest crowd I’ve ever seen at The Arts Project. As the PVC clad nurses accepted tickets and welcomed each visitor, the attendees were immediately engrossed and enthralled by the collective works of each of the artists. Truly appreciating the juxtaposition of the beautiful, and the macabre. To the left of the entrance sat rotting iron bed frame, bathed in a harsh red light, and smattered with bloodied hand prints. This along with a decrepid abandoned wheelchair in the center of the room set the perfect atmosphere for the audience, and provided a possible hint of what was to come. Although nothing could prepare us for the screams that echoed throughout the space, Asylum’s fashion show had begun. The standard term of “model” did not apply on this night, as the beautifully crafted and in some cases historically accurate clothing was donned by characters, who all excelled in their respective roles. Providing not only a very close view of the apparel, but also entertained and allowed us a look into the lives of the “inmates” of this Asylum. Which consisted of Vlad the Impailer; Lizzie Borden; The Marquis de Sade; two frighteningly bruised and beaten wenches; and the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” himself Jesus. This was undoubtedly the best way to feature the work by Denise Bauman (www.worneden.com), Rebecca Horne (aka Nekro), and Ashley Davies (aka Miss X). The displays of each artist were breathtaking in their distinct styles. Recent Juno winner Vincent Marcone (www.mypetskeleton.com) provided a series of prints that were as innocent as they were sinister. Many of them recalling the nightmarish figures that once plagued my childhood slumber. Sarah Legault (www.sarahlegault.com) provided all of us with a window into her multitude of artistic talents providing drawings, paintings, and mesmerizing set of negative prints featuring various states of bondage. Her coup de gras, and what everyone buzzing was the display of handmade dolls, that made the film nerd in me instantly reminded of David Schmoeller’s Puppet Master series. As intricate and beautiful as they are, something inside was telling me “don’t turn your back on these little objects, at any moment they can and will spring to life.” Justin Erickson (www.justin-erickson.com) held his “Zipperface Wing” display downstairs, allowing the audience to chat, snack, and be completely enveloped in his stunningly surreal work. Jeremy Hobbs (www.blackroom.ca) once again treated us to his extremely talented eye, as well as his expertise in exposures and developing. With works including a light box displaying spinal cord x-rays, and a breathtaking series of black and white prints. It once again proved to many of us, that Jeremy is one of the true photographic talents in the city. As the patrons milled throughout the gallery many were puzzled by the sterile, opaque curtains hung at the back of the room. Two blinding spotlights inside provided the audience with a sense of what was to come, faceless human forms leaning over a table with unknown instruments in their hands and just as the first brave soul ventured towards the curtain to gain a better view, it parted and I Was Cured began their show. The first “patient” of the evening was Kyle Paulton. Clad in an eerie black mask with “Nurse” Aimee O’Biern, and “Doctor” Aaron Sarnovsky in tow, he began his series of treatments. Beginning with his forearms, Kyle inserted one needle after another into his flesh until ten lined each from his wrist to elbow. Turning slowly to the crowd he removed his shirt to reveal a minimum of twenty of the same syringe tips lining his back on each side. Politely receiving needle after needle from Nurse Aimee he placed each one into his throat, and then turned to face Aimee who inserted syringes into his collar bones. Just when the crowd, who stood awestruck and silent, thought it was over he then procured more needles from his assistants and inserted each one into the webbing of his fingers, and without a single utterance returned to the safety of the sterile curtain. After a short intermission the curtain parted again revealing Haley Ball, clad in bloodied guaze, bound the fetal position by a thick black rope, and suspended four feet from the floor by her shoulders. Rotating slowly, her eyes were in an almost trance like gaze. The beauty of this performance was discussed in length all night by everyone who attended, as Dave Stewart stepped forward every few moments to snip another strand loose, allowing her limbs freedom. The best description I heard all night was, “it was like watching someone being born.” Which honestly is the only way it could be described, as each rope was pulled away until she swung effortlessly unbound, as her feet touched the floor she looked up to the crowd, and was met with a thunderous round of applause that was richly deserved. Adam Urbach was the third “patient” of the evening. Blindfolded and his arms bound together with rope attached to the hooks in his forearms, he too was raised by his shoulders from the floor. Where Haley’s performance was beautiful, Adam’s was devastatingly sinister. His performance perfectly showcased feelings of sensory depravation, as he was in totally control of Darrin Fowler, and Robert Stearns as they carefully checked the rig before raising him from the floor. After a few minutes in the air he was lowered once again, Aimee quickly stepped in and offered him a slow drink from a water bottle before removing the blindfold. That is when Kyle stepped forward and covered Adam’s head with a thick white sack as he was raised once again. Sadly this performance was a little short, as time was quickly becoming scarce and I Was Cured had something big to prepare for. Their final performance of the evening was something known as “The double superman,” which from what I was told by Aimee earlier in the evening is something rarely done publicly, and hardly ever caught on film. Needless to say I felt extremely fortunate to be included in this moment. As the curtain was pulled back it revealed Dave suspended by his claves, thighs, back and shoulders with eight additional hooks in his chest, stomach, thighs, and shins. Long white strings hanging from the eyelets in each hook. Aaron slid beneath Dave, eight matching hooks lined up in his back. Collectively the group quickly secured the strings to Aaron’s hooks, and with a quick thumbs up from Dave they were hoisted in tandem off the floor. It was, bar none, the most intense thing I have ever witnessed at any of their shows, and as quickly as it seemed to begin the night was over. For those of you who were there that night you know how powerful the entire show was, both for the audience and the artists involved. To me this was the real first indication of the “new artist’s revolution in London” I’ve been hearing so much about. For those of you who missed the reception, not to worry the show continues until Saturday, April 22 at The Arts Project. So stop in, support the artists, and if you upset you missed I Was Cured incredible performance, a DVD shot by yours truly will be on a loop at the gallery. So you can see the feats that my words can barely do justice for. |