Music Biennale Zagreb (MBZ) and HDLU

Teatar &TD / Semicircular Hall

Savska cesta 25, Zagreb

April, 22, 2009 at  24:00 h

NARCISSISTER (USA): Little Night Commentary, performance

In her latest solo showcase see artist Narcissister employ “image-scavenging” in strikingly original neo-burlesque vignettes. In a clever deconstruction of popular media, Narcissister’s explicit moves reveal the manifold corporeal pleasures of female sexuality and suggest a gender which is equivocal, elusive, and bold. In her characteristic series of self-pleasuring, self-seeking, self-loving stunts, Narcissister delivers a language few women master and even fewer dare even to speak. This premier event is Narcissister’s most extensive use of intermedia involving original videos, handmade props and costumes, and a musical score written collaboratively with her partner Evan Collier. Previous works such as Ass/Vag, I’m Everywoman and the Russian Doll will appear alongside live performances of new Narcissister material. Permeating the spectacle will be a cast of actors in Narcissister drag, each in turn enlisting its audience in her spellbinding service. By immersing the audience in Narcissister’s rousing flux of pure undiminished vanity, this project sees its performer’s Narcissean powers reach exponential levels. As Narcissister’s startling image is mirrored from screen, to audience member, back to performer, a version of the mythical “lake” by which the original Narcissus was bewitched is created anew.

Before Narcissister called herself Narcissister, she was a professional modern dancer. Her most formative training took place at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. Among her professional highlights was being selected to perform with the Ailey company in Memoria, one of Ailey’s seminal pieces, touring Europe as a dancer in a German rock-opera, and performing in industrial work for Mercedes Benz.

In addition to her performance work, Narcissister has worked in many other creative media including contemporary quilting, collage, sculpture, printmaking, and photography. Narcissister has also worked extensively as a commercial artist, designing window displays and working as a stylist and art director for an impressive roster of clients. 

The Narcissister performance projects integrate her prior experience as a professional dancer with her current visual and commercial art practices.

In response to her wildly original shows, Narcissister has been receiving much recognition as an outstanding artist and performer through the written word, invitations, and awards. Her art film The Self-Gratifier won an award for “Best Use of a Sex Toy” at The 2008 Good Vibrations Erotic Film Festival. In April she will be awarded a Bistro Award for Outstanding Vaudeville/Burlesque Award, a category created especially to honor Narcissister’s performance work.

She was selected for a performance art residency organized by Art in General Gallery and the HDLU/Croatian Association of Artists in Zagreb, Croatia this Spring. As part of her residency she will present her first solo evening length show at the Biennale.

More about Narcissister: HERE

More about MBZ: HERE