Performance at Bag Factory Artists' Studios, Johannesburg, South Africa (April 2018)
Photo/Video in the performance: Solomon Moremong
Video documentation: Pre-empt Group /Phumlani Ntuli
Text: Chumisa Ndakisa
Sound: Daniel Konar
Graphic design: Joe Turpin
DJ: Sam Turpin
Styling/Assistant: Neo Diseko
Make-up: Zenie Mketeni
Performers: Bathusi Maqina, Bongekile Nguza, Khotso Motsoeneng, Lwando Dlamini, Palesa Sibiya
To celebrate is to publicly acknowledge a significant day or event with a social gathering or enjoyable activity – when celebrating one is expected to express joy and present a light demeanour. Sometimes people will dress up in specially chosen attire or according to a theme. At a celebration one can expect food, drink and music. Another way to describe a celebration is to call it a Party(!).
What to expect at an adult party:
Invariable:
Music
More than one person (arguable)
(alcoholic) Beverages
Joy/Happiness/Laughter
Conversation (light to robust)
(initial) Awkwardness
Variable:
Dancing
Food
Arguments
Posturing
Bravado
Revelations
Romance and/or Lust
Elephant in the Room is Hiroko Tsuchimoto’s investigation of the performances, dialogues and sequences that make up a party. Her interest in the absurd and awkwardness has produced insightful, ironic work with a sociological outlook.
In any room there is a combination of personalities and/or types of people, it’s possible that at a party certain personality traits are suppressed or amplified. There are those who are there to entertain and those there to be entertained, those who are there to see and those there be seen. It’s a supposedly symbiotic atmosphere where everyone in attendance is to gain fulfilment within their respective limits and social abilities.
In a jovial setting what then could be the “elephant in the room”? Perhaps among a combination of strangers, acquaintances and close friends socialising within a white gallery space, everyone will bring their own elephant.
