NEW WORK OCT 2009

Aoife Casey

This work originates from an interest in the ideas surrounding the active embodiment of gender, sexuality and the body politic.’Sex and the Social Order’(1946) by George H. Seward claims to be “ a psychologists assessment of modern knowledge about sex, with a view to reformulating sex roles in a way which will improve relations between men and women”. Passages from the book are investigated, social and biological behaviour are explored through mechanical and spatial representations of the body.The structure of the body sculpture worn during performance is derived from the back crests of mammals, the rising and dropping of the piece illustrates and challenges the relationship between dominance and receptivity, courtship and territorial behaviour.

The crest is slowly highered off the back at intervals by pulling down on 3 ropes, each representative of part of the female sex rhythm. (1. Physiological Process,2. Psychomotor Performance and 3. Emotional Reactivity)

Rope 1 represents Physiological Processes- a suggested 4 stage hormonal sequence in menstruation cycles of females and in particular a suggested rise in muscle strength (pre-menstrual) and peak in motor activity followed by a sharp fall (post menstrual).

Rope 2 represents Psychomotor Performance, the maintaining of motor skills irrelevant of menstrual cycle and a heightening of intellectual awareness ( pre-menstrual).

Rope 3 represents Emotional Reactivity, the reported studies stating the pre-menstrual phase being characterized by activity spurts coupled with high tension , iritability followed by introversion tendencies.

All these elements are embodied by the strenuous lift and hold of the crest followed by a quick and violent collapse/letting go ( eliminative, destructive) of the crest to the floor.