What is No Milk ?
Being inspired by the art piece exhibited in the Walker Art Gallery Liverpool titled ‘Harmony Green’ by Dan Hayes immediately provoked a reaction from me. I didn’t see any depth to the canvas or understand Dan Hayes intention or symbolic meaning to it; I believed it was a shallow painting that challenged me. Researching ‘Harmony Green’ lead me to appreciate the artist and question my feelings towards the painting.
The painting was a hamster cage and was described as a ‘desirable place to occupy’ but yet there were no doors or exit? This to me seen like imprisonment and the confide cage didn’t portray a harmonious but a complete juxtaposition. Working with ideas of rules, regulations and the confinement of the cage ‘No Milk’ was created. The piece has been on a year long process from looking literal to abstract as the solo has took on political and controversial issues.
Being hugely influenced by Pollitical leaders, referencing to Martin Luther King, Hitler, Margret Thatcher and a new movement of today E.D.L (English Defence League) are evident throughout the piece. Wanting to challenge an audience that come to see ‘No Milk’ with hard hitting statements and the raw realism of this “illusion of depth” Dan Hayes talked about. There is no message, no hidden truth behind the piece just a chance to be confused and needing an answer to justify what you can see. Feeling the rawness and current relevance the dance has today and being apart of the unsettling atmosphere that has been based on ‘Harmony Green’.
I find inspiration through the piece and only goal was to inspire and provoke others. The movement builds on tension with testing contact work with the wheelie bin. The wheelie bin is a representation of working class people of today and is also symbolic to the manipulating people past and present have been through due to political happenings.
Working collaboratively with audio and visual artist will help give the piece the chilling element of imprisonment the audience will feel. I want the music to be invasive and at times irritable with heavy beats you can really feel through your skin. Taking characteristics of Dub Step to bring the piece up to date, with an electronic feel that is grungy creating a dark mood with emphasis on bass. Mirroring this with visuals, projection will be used to trap the audience in the space by flashing uncomfortable imagery in there faces until it become obscure and uneasy to watch. Projection references towards political happening that invite speculations and opinions from the audience.
This is 'No Milk' so far it's a Working Progress that has been on a year long process tyhat im excited to work on this year with the help of audio and visual artists.
