This wonderful double bill by dance artist Suzi Cunningham couldn’t be more perfect for this blog. Eidos was created by Cunningham in tribute to both the late,great Mark E Smith of The Fall, and Cunningham ‘s own grandmother, who like Cunningham herself exuded glamour and independence.
Cunningham is like a shapeshifting sorceress. She is, variously, vintage mannequin come to life; ghost, and goddess. With simple props, which become extra characters, she transforms her body and the space, drawing upon her Butoh-influenced choreography, and a unique, punky sprite palette. She’s elegant, mischievous and clever. In her hands, a red dress becomes totemic of Hollywood iconography, theatre and club kid alike: she’s all of her influences and transcending beyond them; ritualistic, playful and regal.
Rules To Live By, deploying George Carlin’s witty, ironic monologue, is a study in both entropy and transformation. Cunningham makes, then disassembles, her own set as easily as personae. Even when covered in treacly gloop, we’re completely invested in her otherwordly siren, who seems to critique the failures of modernity, while also rising aloft, deftly fashioning shimmery discarded material into a kind of shroud.
This feels like an act of political resistance – art as therapy, a rejection of the conservative status quo. It’s Cunningham ‘s willingness to overturn simple narratives that make her a truly special, unique performer. She’s absolutely mesmerising.
Suzi Cunningham is touring Europe in the summer. For more details,head to:
http://www.suzicunninghamartist.weebly.com
Photos by Neil Nisbet and Chantal Guevara
Hit The North 