Erotic / Autoerotic includes performance videos that explore sexuality through several lenses. With another person, by oneself, or with the aid of objects, the artists in this series pose questions regarding humor, uncomfortability, and aesthetics of the nude body within art, especially as it encroaches on seductive territory. Erotic/Autoerotic features works by Narcissister, Marta Ivanova, Casey Smallwood, and Cristiane Bouger.

Bio

Cristiane Bouger (Brazil/US) is a 2012-2013 Movement Research Artist-in-Residence and a 2012-2013 Performa Magazine Writer-in-Residence in New York. Her interdisciplinary work reveals existential examinations reflecting upon the female body, desire, cultural conducts, behavior and symbols, biography and fiction. Her live and video performances have been presented in numerous independent and institutional circuits in Brazil, as well as at the Anthology Film Archives, ACE Film Festival, Dixon Place, chashama 461 Gallery, Movement Research at the Judson Church, and Center for Performance Research – CPR (New York); 9e`me Festival des Cinemas Differents (Paris), In-Presentable 08 (Madrid), Montage Video Dance Festival (Johannesburg); Centrul National al Dansului Bucuresti (CNDB)/ Atelierul de Productie (Bucharest) and on the national TVR channel in Romania.

The first part of Lips is more meditative and refers to the painting process used in labia correction through the shadowing system. It speaks of virginity and hymen repair. The second part refers to a more subliminal aspect of makeup and the notion that “all women highlight their cheeks for their faces to look flushed, like after an orgasm”. Ivanova concludes that, “All in all, the object of desire turns to reddened flesh, becoming a warning sign or symbol.”.

BIO
Marta Ivanova, (Russia/Lithuania) (b. 1991, Russia) lives and studies in Vilnius, Lithuania. Ivanova is a photographer and media artist, mainly interested in women’s themes. She primarily uses her own body as a means of expression and views the female body as a battlefield, as an atlas. Her body-based, interdisciplinary artworks at times function as subtle cultural critique. The artist also uses autobiography in her work, visually speaking with her body and her physical surroundings, thus bringing the work closer to the viewer. Ivanova was educated at the National M.K.Ciurlionis Art School and the Vilnius Academy of Art.

Bio

Casey Smallwood (US) (b. 1981) lives and works in Chicago. She received her MFA from The University of Chicago in 2008. She was included in Band of Outsiders at the College Art Association’s ARTspace Media Lounge in 2011, curated by Catherine Sullivan, and has exhibited nationally and internationally. She was an Artist in Residence at the Banff Centre’s Our Literal Speed thematic residency in Banff, Canada in 2013.

In the video, “Vaseline”, Narcissister inverts Everywoman, confronting us with a rockabilly character in pumps and a leather jacket, coiffed in a shiny headpiece reminiscent of Elvis Presley’s famous ‘do. You’ve rubbed it on your lips in winter; it has offered you reliable lubrication during memorable romps. Smeared on the hair and shoved in the ass, Vaseline creates for Narcisssister both surface shine and sexual lubricant, acting as both repellant and invitation. Vaseline presents slippery transitions of costume, gender, and species, such that Narcissister consumes her own dick and balls, only to be replaced by merkin and a canine threat, ready to pounce. In this violent transgendering, unafraid of penetration by dildo or knife, Narcissister offers us a staccato glimpse into what it could mean to tame one’s own beast. By calling upon the mixed mid-century sound and image of the rockabilly type, adorned—and subsequently stripped of—clearly delineated black and white checkered clothing, Narcissister’s exploration of transgender and trans-genre is haunted by America’s ghosts, the brutality of racialized laws of segregation and miscegenation. Ever behind a mask, you will never see Narcissister’s face. You will, however, be invited to wonder what kinds of fires are being put out in her ass.

Bio

Narcissister (US) is a Brooklyn-based artist and performer. Her formative dance training took place at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. In addition to her performance work, Narcissister works in many other creative media including contemporary quilting, collage, sculpture, printmaking and photography. She has participated in studio residencies including the Whitney Museum Independent Study Program and the Art in General Eastern European Residency Program. Her work has been included in numerous group shows and media publications.

In addition to being a featured performer at The Box NYC, Narcissister has presented live work at Deitch Projects, Joe’s Pub, Dixon Place and Anna Kustera Gallery, and has starred in and curated performance shows at Santos Party House and the Zipper Factory. Her art videos have been included in gallery shows and film festivals worldwide.