Smells Like Butter
Smells Like Butter is a performance work looking at issues of appropriation of culture, heritage, gender, materials and art. Through the lens of the aesthetically rich Onnagata (men playing female roles) from Kabuki Theatre.
A collaborative project with Rebecca Cartwright, Robin Porter, Olivia Paddison, Gina Ricker and Corinne Wright
Building on our work from Critical Costume 2018, Rebecca and I delved deeper into the problematic portrayals of women, continuing to query our queering and commenting on cultural pillaging by capitalism.
This dance essay exposes Western choreographers penchant for Kabuki physicality as well as showing pieces of traditional repertoire and reconstituted Kabuki dances. Ultimately serving the purpose of questioning why this art form is so derogatory about women, while being simultaneously so respectful, beautiful and virtuosic.
SLB was created by choreographer Aaron Markwell and Costume Designer Rebecca Cartwright in collaboration with Robin Porter, Gina Ricker & Corinne Dixon Wright. A significant contribution of set from Farrow & Ball has ensured we could stage the work within grasp of our expanding vision.
Special thanks to Corinne Wright, Alex Mincks, Sian Colley, Amaia Orozko, Michael Spencer and Peter Brooks, as well as Mingmei Yu, Eunyoo Park, Olivia Paddison, Nica Harrison and Simu Wang for their support, guidance and generosity.
Use the PDF link here to read my MA Dissertation: Appropriate appropriation? - Westerners and the Onnagata, a moral minefield for the contemporary artist.
