Salamèche

I have an accurate sense of self importance. I am honest about my skills and achievements. I expect to be treated fairly.

A figure gives an unhurried litany of their perfect ethical behaviour. Using language drawn from legal, therapeutic, professional and social justice contexts, they speak of their impeccable sensitivities, boundaries and care. This gesture of transparency begins to feel impenetrable, and sinister. A mastery of interpersonal relations culminates in something demonic.

Self Possessed has been presented in galleries, conferences, gigs, studios, and homes. Audiences have described it as “electric”, “mesmerising” and “horrific”. The work was developed in 2021, in response to the increased moral scrutiny of interpersonal encounters that arose in civic and institutional arenas after #MeToo and #BLM. The work suggests something dark and dangerous lies in an exhaustive pursuit of scrupulous behaviour.

In 2023, we developed a video version of this work, that exploits the particular sensuousness, intimacy and vulnerability that can lie between performer, camera and viewer.

Performance: First presented at Handle With Care, Manchester Art Gallery (November 2021). Later performances include Martin Parr Foundation (Bristol, January 2022) and Rammel Club (Nottingham, April 2024).

The work was developed with the support of Chisenhale Dance Space (London, July 2021) and MASSIA (Estonia, September 2021).

Video: The video version of the work was first presented at Gasleak Mountain (Nottingham, October 2023) as part of our solo exhibition Any Other Business.

Photo and styling by Hamish MacPherson.