Artists: Nobuyoshi Araki, Athena Papadopoulos, Bunny Rogers, Diamond Antoinette Stingily, Hanna Törnudd, Karlheinz Weinberger
Exhibition title: Take this Gum and Stick it
Curated by: Nasrin Leahy
Venue: Ellis King, Dublin, Ireland
Date: July 22 – August 27, 2016
Photography: images copyright and courtesy of the artists and Ellis King, Dublin
First encounters of passionate resonance often arise in our seemingly tender, adolescent years. A time of self-exploration, the first refutation of societal expectation. Sensations of rebellion and impulsion. A riotous dichotomy ensues as the adolescent embraces new desires while adult society desperately attempts to impose forsaken innocence, non-consensually.
But in our rooms we play other games and at the dance our eager gropes are shrouded in smoke.
Take this Gum and Stick it, addresses this onset of hedonistic desire. Artworks put in place aesthetically contain a certain level of naivete; lace materials, the predominance of pink and imagery of a delicate or effeminate nature all contribute to a sense of innocence and nostalgia. In contrast, the thematic direction of the exhibition combined with the artworks themselves, play to varied sexual dialogues. Each work functions as an unapologetic declaration of primordial attraction or adolescent urges. In its entirety, the exhibition is an ode to that period in one’s life (particularly if that individual is queer or female) when sex is presented as sensitive subject matter. Yet, it diverges from this tactful bestowal, demands agency and takes it by the balls.
–Nasrin Leahy
Athena Papadopoulos, Lounge Lovers at Lupercalia (Forever’s Going to Start at Night), 2015. Pepto-Bismol, red wine, Crazy Colours hair dye, henna, lipstick, nail polish, self-tanner, Gaviscon, Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs, image transfers, bleach, pins, thread and fixative on bed sheet over canvas, 98.4 x 74.8 inches (250 x 190 cm)
Bunny Rogers, Self Portrait (Mourning Mop), 2013
Dye, mop, ribbon, 50 x 10 inches (127 x 25.4cm)
Diamond Antoinette Stingily, Disney Bytchez, 2013
Directed by Hiba Ali, Digital Video, 1′ 26″
Diamond Antoinette Stingily, Disney Bytchez, 2013
Directed by Hiba Ali, Digital Video, 1′ 26″
Karlheinz Weinberger, Romeo (Werner Berger) Boss Der Revenge Gang, Zurich, 1962
Signed in black ink verso, Geltain silver print, 20 x 16 inches (50.8 x 40.64), sheet
Metaphysical Scarf Experience (Hanna Törnudd), X,O Letter Scarves, 2014
Handmade silk scarves, blanket, lamp, Dimensions variable
Nobuyoshi Araki, Untitled, From the series Polanographs, 2003 – 2004
Polaroid, unique, 4.25 x 3.5 inches (10.8 x 8.9cm)