past

I've always been aware of the power if the image, certainly in relation to my body; used as a warning, for pity inducing, for scare tactics, for sympathy, for shock treatment, by others, and in reaction to their frequent  innaccuracies, misconceptions, and most of all lack of imagination, I decided to provide a more authoritative signature to further uses of my image by utilising evocations previously hamfisted by others, and claim the territory for myself. At first a victim of, then an exploiter of this phenomenon, I've increasingly used my own image in more and more confrontational presentations. I realised quickly that Live Art can offer performance opportunities you just can’t get to in theatre, and for me the more brutal and confrontational aspect of my investigation into disability’s difficult interface with mainstream cultural concerns, was made possible by utilising this great medium.  I was lucky enough to be included in Manuel Vason’s seminal book on Live Artists, “Exposures” ( see links) , and began to make pieces of work which reflected the way I felt about many things, historical, contemporary, and expressionistic. Over the last 5 years I’ve made many different pieces, and performed them all, over the world. Most importantly, all of my development in this field was made possible by the encouragement, funding and advice and help of Lois Keidan and Daniel Brine @ the excellent London Live Art Development Agency ( see links), and Laura Godfrey Isaac with  Mimi Banks @ Home (see links). Please go to my Live Art CV for full details of my previous work.