Interview : Janice Perry - One of the World’s Most Respected Performers

Seed Newsvine

Janice Perry has been quoted by BBC radio as ‘One of the World’s Most Respected Performance Artists’ and by The Independent as ‘a cross between Doris Day and a high-velocity rifle.’ She will be performing at London LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender and Queer) art festival GFEST in November 2011.

GFEST is known as  ‘LGBTQ art fest for all in London’.  GFEST 2011 dates: 7 to 20 November.  GFEST features established alongside fresh or young LGBT artists and queer talent across the arts, including LGBT short films, visual arts, theatre and performance,  debates, workshops and parties.

Full 2011 programme info & booking on: http://www.gaywisefestival.org.uk

GFEST – Gaywise FESTival 2011 performances will take place at The Cockpit (Theatre), Gateforth Street, Marylebone, London, NW8 8EH on Thus 17,  Fri 18  and Sat 19 Nov at 7.30 PM  / Online: http://www.wegottickets.com/f/2991

GFEST team caught up with Janice to ask her about her views on her own work and creativity in general:

Janice Perry

How do you see your own performance work? 

‘Not Just Another Pretty face’ is an embodied record of US American socio/cultural history from 1981 to the present, covering topics from sexual and gender identity to the NEA censorship of Robert Mapplethorpe’s photographs. And it is funny.

How would you describe your own practice?

My practice is divided: one part is live stage work, in which I’m using humor, costume, lighting, and video to present social criticism and political satire. Another part is interdisciplinary multi-media work that is also strongly critical, and also uses humor as a way to get social and political criticism across. This “off-stage” work usually integrates video, text, and movement– ok, my stage work does that too! And perhaps my favorite, working with students and established artists in creating new multi-media work.

Are there any external factors that help you creatively?

I try to pay attention to what is going on in the world– the physical world, the cultural world, the political world, and the social world. Conversations and collaborations with other artists and thinkers. Working with students.

How do you look at reinventing yourself or reflect progression in your work?

‘Not Just Another Pretty Face’ is a retrospective that follows my progression from very personal (and funny) performances pieces to pieces that reflect social issues.

What are the most important themes and elements that feed into your creativity?

War, Censorship, Political Aggression, Gender, Sexuality, High Art, Love. You know, the little things in life.

Can you describe the creative process behind the work and how it works for you?

Usually I start with something very small, it could be a phrase, a tune, a sentence, an image, a movement, a costume idea, a vocal sound– then, if I am paying attention, other themes or pieces pop up, and I try to make notes as they arrive. Then, after a few months of this, I try to figure out what it is about that initial thing that interested me, and how all of the different things that I’ve been thinking about are related.

How would you like yourself or your work to be known? 

I began solo performance 30 years ago,  and my work has continually evolved. I always have created work that is on the edge, and I have always used humor as a way to make that work accessible to audiences, no matter who they are, where they are, or what language they speak.

Any single wish?

I’d love a 3-year commission to lead a series of multi-media performance and installation pieces made in collaboration with several groups of emerging and established artists and thinkers from different disciplines.

Thank you Janice and best wishes from GFEST team.

For more information on GFEST – Gaywise FESTival 2011 please contact: Subodh Rathod, Wise Thoughts / GFEST – Gaywise FESTival
Tel: 020 8889 9555
info@wisethoughts.org
http://www.wisethoughts.org     &    http://www.gaywisefestival.org.uk

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