Spoken scripted text, recorded music & soundtrack, latex catsuit, yellow microphone cable, acrylic paint, tissue paper, ink, satin ribbon, perspex lectern, gallery seating (25’00). Photos: Kirstin Prisk
An exploration of the word ‘HOLD’, engaging with the forms and themes present in Caland’s work. Re-configured memories of holding and being held, intimacy and distance. Through a combination of a spoken scripted text, a recorded music soundtrack, costume, and sculptural props, the work strikes a delicate balance between suggestive and explicit content and a transforming of private experience into public expression.
SCRIPT:
Part 1 – BEHOLD!
I put this on to feel good tonight
The realllll dealllll
So smooooooth
Liquid
Liquid
Firm
Serious
Sexy
Sexy
Firm
Serious
Sexy
Sexy
We own this!
We own this, tonight
Don’t worry!
Don’t worry
We own this
Tonight
No worries
No way
Our heads held high
No worries
No way
Heads held high
Part 2 – HOLD ME NOW
Do what we want
We pleeease ourselves
Do what we want (whisper)
I’ll take care of you
Let me take care of you? (whisper)
I want to make a home with you
But still be free
Be held when we both need it
Do you need it?
Our hearts beat so fast
Ripe
Fit
To
Burst
Within our skin we flow alone, but, tidal together
Like thosssssse waves. It’s true!
Your hair, the sky
They cut into each other
I like to run my fingers through them both
How do we come together?
In a perfect world
How do we come together?
Like a puzzle
Fit
To
Burst
Part 3 – IN THE HOLD
Pressed down
Zipped in
As close as close can be
Floating, in this space
From one start to one finish
Right now
Hands in the air
Put your feet where the picture of feet is
A position like your under arrest
Does this airport ever close?
Does this looping ever stop?
On this plane, either side are strangers
Kim often meets people on planes
Just say hi Susie
Just say hi
Our arms and legs at right angles
We plug our ears
We fill our heads
You have a child
It’s resting on me
Gently asleep on my shoulder
A mix of understanding and irritation
Do I want one?
If so the time is
sooooooonishhhhhhhh
It feels so good when I hold one in my arms
Like holding my old cat
I watched a video, you can put it’s arms across it’s chest
Much like a brace position, if this plane crashes
Limbs folded close
Swaddled
The baby feels safe
Part Four – HAND HELD
A comfortable nesting
Loose in my grip
The first thing
I’ve forgotten
I’ve forgotten
The first thing
Scrolling
Suspended
Pulling
Checking
Updating
Touching
Looking
Feeling
Scrolling
Pulling
Checking
Updating
Touching
Looking
Feeling
Suspended
Scrolling
Checking
Checking
Checking
Our beds are the perfect place for this
Alone but together
Squeezed into the palm of our hands
I like to hold you in the palm of my hand
Eye to eye
thumb to thumb
heart to heart
thumb to heart
‘LIKE’
I can’t put it down (whisper)
I can’t put it down (whisper)
I miss you
Part 5 – HOLD ON
Fully formed
Fully framed
Held tight
Together
Fully formed
Fully framed
Held tight
Held tight
Together
Tonight
Our hearts beat
Surrounded
Submerged
The pool
A warm bath
That sea
A film, in the dark
The limbs of the people
Weightless
The water, turquoise
The tiles yellow, green, red
I feel so glad
The little girl with the magenta swimsuit and orange floats on her arms
I was held by it all
Everybody needs to be held
What a pleasure this all is
What a pleasure this all is