UNDER THE GAZE
A half-hour participatory theatre piece adapted from life-model Suki's autobiography A SMALL LIFE (Cinnamon Press 2012) and her discursive blog at sukithelifemodel.co.uk.
In the eighties a feminist theory evolved in art about the so-called 'male gaze'. Male artists’ models have traditionally also been their mistresses - she owned by him; her representation controlled by him. The theory goes that ‘looking upon', in order to represent, gives power.
In the new millenium struggling poet Suki - approaching middle age, living alone, post-feminist, a little bit anorexic, just slightly suicidal - has turned to life modelling to make ends meet. While Suki poses for and is drawn by the audience, we hear the artists talk about their relationship with the model, and also what is really going on in the mind of Suki when she is 'under the gaze’…
First performed live by Suki with 'staged' artists plus audience members (all were invited to draw) at the Delius Arts Centre, Bradford, UK, 2012. It has subsequently been performed at Swindon Literature Festival 2013 and Grassington Arts Festival 2013. A performance in Shanghai is planned in 2015.
Audio-visual design and presentation by Bel at bel-photography.co.uk
Bookings for performances or readings: info@sukithelifemodel.co.uk
