Information
Concept: Tanya Ury
Workshops – a collection of works:
- Dance Video Workshop: Control 1991
- Dance Video Workshop: Secret Spaces 1991
- Bochum Workshop – Uniform, Status Symbol and Ideal 2007
- Unnatural Consequences (work in progress) 2014-
Take a piece of paper; draw a face; fold the paper over to conceal the face – only a neck can now be seen; pass the paper on to the next in line, who will draw a torso to the waist; the procedure is then repeated and the next participant draws legs to the knees, followed by another who draws calves, and the last person in line draws the feet.
The whole modus operandi can of course alternatively be conducted with words: a story is begun — the paper folded over, to reveal only one or two connecting words, such as “and” or “then”, which will enable the next player to continue the story, and so on, till the end.
This traditional children’s pencil-and-paper activity is also called “Exquisite Corpse” from the Surrealist artists’ version of the game.
The technique was invented by Surrealists and is similar to an old parlour game called Consequences in which players write in turn on a sheet of paper, fold it to conceal part of the writing, and then pass it to the next player for a further contribution. Surrealism principal founder André Breton reported that it started in fun, but became playful and eventually enriching. Breton said the diversion started about 1925, but Pierre Reverdy wrote that it started much earlier, at least before 1918. In a variant now known as picture consequences, instead of sentences, portions of a person were drawn.1
Divided into groups of five, workshop contributors produce several poetic narratives and in a second phase surreal images, that may be exhibited later. To heighten the intrigue of this game, long banners of paper (as well as inks) are provided and time will be allowed for group members to discuss a storyline amongst themselves, before passing the paper on to the next group.
Costume is often worn in the workplace: a suit, a nurses outfit, police regalia — in the army, a military uniform. Workshop contributors will have collected and brought along magazine cuttings of various uniforms and social symbols, to assist them as an extra game element in developing this Unnatural Consequences in which portrayed characters may be illustrated wearing formal or army costume.
Invented stories might encompass diverse philosophies including an imagined life in the military or other regimented lifestyles, to reflect and parody our vision of nation and society, past and present. In the context of EL-DE-Haus and the Hair Shirt Army exhibition, which intimates an army that did not protect its people, an army that served badly or a ghost army of victims, the uniform is a perversion.
In everyday clothing we reveal ourselves: to which social grouping we belong or aspire, to which culture and to which orientation — sexual or political. Official wear standardises but with the Unnatural Consequences tactic of discrediting the uniform the normal Consequences game is exploded and the game becomes a social statement.