Photo by Hamish MacPherson

Charizard are an arts collective based in Nottingham and London, currently composed of Rohanne Udall and Paul Paschal.

Trained in visual arts, dance and philosophy, we work with many different materials and processes: performance, video, printmaking, sculpture, radio broadcasts, publication, workshops and curatorial projects. We seek out and contribute to cultures of invitation, playfulness and thought.

Our projects develop slowly. Rather than starting with a concept or ‘message’, we allow the materials and context to shape the work’s subject matter, politics, humour, economy, and pleasure. We often collaborate, and value unexpected outcomes that exceed our initial plans or understanding. Inevitably, the material ends up responding to the wider world, and what it means to keep on living, working, and being in relation.

The resulting work tends to feel bright, precise, subversive, and charming. Things start from the seemingly-banal, but pursue seductive logics to riotous ends. By troubling that which appears set or straightforward, our work gives rise to a sense of possibility and transformation, and offers permission to our audiences to rethink and reshape the world around them.

Sometimes we set up our own things and sometimes we work in institutions. Our current interests include: bookmaking, counter-history, institutional office, moral rhetoric, over-hosting, peer networks, poetry, pretence, touring, ugly feeling.

Our work has been developed within and presented across major stages, galleries, arts centers and festivals in the UK and beyond. We have presented performances at Rich Mix (2019), Nottdance (2019) and Manchester Art Gallery (2021); mounted solo exhibitions at Forth (2019) and Gasleak Mountain (2023). We have been awarded commissions from David Roberts Art Foundation (2018), LADA (2019), Siobhan Davies Studios (2021) and a-n & Primary (2023); and undertaken residencies at Hospitalfield Arts (2016), PACT Zollverein (2019) and S’ALA (2022). From ’20-24, we are undertaking a TECHNE-funded PhD at the University of Roehampton and Sadler’s Wells Theatre.

Current and regular collaborators include: Shivaangee Agrawal, Sepideh Ardalani, Megan Arnold, Laura Burns, George Chinnery, Paud Condron, Jane Francis Dunlop, Fionn Duffy, Andrew Edwards, Bahar Fattahi, Alex Fernandes, Gasleak Mountain, Anna Fennel Hughes, Mira Kautto, Ash Kilmartin, Amy Lawrence, Cannach MacBride, Hamish MacPherson, D Mortimer, Sam Pardes, Lara Pawson, Orley Quick, Rajni Shah, Anastasia Shin, Eunji Sung, Rebecca Wigmore, and Jemima Yong.

You can email us at rohanneudall[at]me[dot]com and p[dot]hughespaul[at]gmail[dot]com.