CONSTELLATION

CONSTELLATION

EXQUISITE CORPSE

BRADFORD 2015

FUSE ART SPACE, UK

PHOTOGRAPHY / FILM: SARAH FARADAY / TILL RIESTER

Created + Performed by Poppy Jackson

Produced by Sarah Faraday + James Birchall

▲ Various containers of menstrual blood (received from contributors who responded to an online call-out), stick and compact mirror (painted white), live internet stream of the performance  > 2 hour duration

Inside the gallery various containers are placed across the floor (drinks bottles/jam jars/an envelope/vials) filled with varying amounts of menstrual blood, that Jackson has obtained through an online call-out in the lead up to the work. As audience members enter the space, Jackson sits on the floor amongst the containers, applying small red dots of menstrual blood to her body, beginning by dotting the soles of her feet. When her whole body is covered, she begins dotting the ceiling of Fuse Art Space with dots from the various containers of menstrual blood. She covers the whole ceiling of the gallery in small red dots of different peoples menstrual blood over the course of the two hour duration of the piece, joining the works in Exquisite Corspe exhibition.

Passers by view the performance through the windows of the gallery. Jackson acknowledges these viewers openly and with eye contact. As she opens more containers of blood to apply them to the ceiling, the smell of menstrual blood becomes more pungent. Lastly, she gathers all the containers of blood and holds these between her arm and belly before leaving the space. A vast 'constellation' of dots remains on the ceiling of the space.

“The artist was completely focused and held the room, especially with her strong presence approaching the door and unflinching actions near the distractions outside. It was very powerful when she came close to each of us."

"Looking at the audience occasionally, I saw people mesmerised by her actions."

"It felt like a contemporary yet timeless cave painting"

- Audience responses

All images © 2014 - 2019 Poppy Jackson