Sonia Boyce

*Paper Tiger Whisky Soap Theatre (Dada Nice)*, 2016. Nine-screen colour video installation with sound and wallpaper. Dimensions variable. 18 mins. Courtesy Villa Arson, Nice, France. Photo:© Jean Brasille / Villa Arson

*Dada Migrant Wallpaper*, 2016 - 2019. Digital printed wallpaper. Dimensions variable

*Dada Migrant Wallpaper*(detail), 2016 - 2019. Digital printed wallpaper. Dimensions variable

As part of a three-month residency in October 2015, the artist brought together two performers (grunge-rapper Astronautalis, and dancer / choreographer Vânia Gala) to lead an improvisation workshop with the art students at the Villa Arson in Nice. This was their first time working together. In the proceeding days, they encouraged a cohort of international students to express themselves freely through improvised performances, games, dance movements, and social interactions with the aim of achieving bodily and linguistic emancipation.

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Curated by Sophie Orlando, the resulting nine-channel installation, Paper Tiger Whisky Soap Theatre (Dada Nice), gains its title from one of the first filmed exercises explored during the performance.

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The Circle documents this exercise. Aware that the student cohort represents many nationalities and that they are all multi-lingual; (French, English, Korean, Portuguese, Swedish, Arabic, etc.), Astronautalis gathered everyone in a circle and asked the person beside him to listen to five words repeated over and over again: paper, tiger, whisky, soap, and theatre. These words are repeated and then translated into their mother tongue to pass on to the next person for them to translate. If the person receiving the words is unable to comprehend what they are told, they are instructed to ad-lib. The initial whispers transform into a joyous cacophony and the whole experience becomes a Dadaist performance where words and language lose their meaning to engender a sense of nervousness, freedom and collective joy.

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As part of the installation, the artist also used the footage to create hand-drawn wallpapers of repeated patterns derived from the various exercises explored during the workshop encounters and incorporating the titles of popular songs, plus songs from film-musicals, about restrictions, movement, and freedom.

Related theme: Performance

Green light (Kate)
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Merriment Lights
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Backlit
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Michael & swishing braids 01
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Orange scarf (Sola)
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Michael & swishing braids 03
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Entering the Disco
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Grey Jumper
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Purple Lights (Lisa)
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Hands up
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Michael & swishing braids 02
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Silhouette
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Judah
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Two in motion together (Ere & Toyin)
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BENEVOLENCE
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Put Your Hands Together
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Family Gorgeous Smudged
2022

On My Way
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FEELING HER WAY
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In the Mix: Shirley Songs
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In the Mix: Skunk Sputnik
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Ain't Misbehavin'
2022

In the Mix: Hippy Liberty
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Yes, I Hear You
2022

In the Mix: Disciples Together
2022

In the Mix: Mel & Kim Respect
2022

In the Mix: Alexandra B’s Dress
2022

P. P. Arnold / Just call me angel of the morning
2021

Polystyrene / X-ray Spex OH BONDAGE UP YOURS!
2021

Sade / The Sweetest Taboo
2021

Miss Elizabeth Welch 1933 – 1940 / a nightingale sang in Berkeley Square
2021

Sheila Chandra / Ever so lonely MONSOON
2021

Shirley Bassey / Goldfinger
2021

Six Acts
2018

The Audition
1997 - printed 2018

We move in her way
2017

Paper Tiger Whisky Soap Theatre (Dada Nice)
2016

Just One Minute More
2016-2022

Exquisite Cacophony
2015

Move
2013

Dance of Belém
2011

Oh Adelaide (with Ain Bailey)
2010

Gather:Justicia
2010

Taken
2009

Devotional Wallpaper and Placards
2008 - 2018

Drift
2008

For you, only you
2007

Crop Over
2007

1930s to 1960s – The Rivington Place Portfolio
2006

Exquisite Tension
2006

Devotional II
2005

Devotional, 2004
2004

Related theme: Participatory / Collaboration