Jennifer Allen – PUKIJAM
26 March 2015 to 8 May 2015
PUKIJAM
Jennifer Allen aka Quilla Constance, Curated by Maria M. Kheirkhah
198 Contemporary Arts and Learning is delighted to present ‘PUKIJAM’, an exhibition of videos, photographs, paintings and sculptural costumes by artist Jennifer Allen aka Quilla Constance (QC). QC’s multidisciplinary works transform the gallery at 198 CAL into a space where notions of cultural authenticity and taboo are challenged via a series of unexpected visual and aural combinations.
Quilla Constance, QC, is a satirical punk persona created, performed and deployed by Allen in order to locate a point of agency within the hegemonic framework of white phallocentric order.
As QC, Allen stages and virally inserts her artistic practice within pop culture, traversing music venues, forging protests and entering art galleries in order to emulate and critique the operations of these cultural zones. Here QC offers a raw and fresh frame through which Allen examines the construction of black female identities within contemporary British media culture.
Allen’s newly commissioned video piece, ‘PUKIJAM’ simultaneously deconstructs and reinforces notions of meaning and identity via a dystopian Golliwog Cakewalk. The performance is accompanied and interrupted by a montage of erotic media images, figurative objects and Allen’s mutant scat vocal set against a relentless electronic throb.
Other video works include ‘Happy Christmas Mom & Dad’ a transgressive piece which sees Allen allegedly perform a seductive dance as a gift for her parents on Christmas day, and ‘VJAZZLED’, a satire on the Essex lady garden beautification trend of Vajazzling.
The exhibition continues with vibrant sculptural costumes adorning large, exotic, acrylic on canvas abstractions. These conspire with the video works, inviting the viewer into a dialogue through which notions of cultural authenticity and the production of meaning are visibly contested.
Exhibition Events
Thursday 26th March 2015 | Private view | 6-9pm
Friday 27th March | Artist-led Karaoke workshop for young people | creative responses to works by Jennifer Allen aka Quilla Constance.
Friday 17th April | Performance | join us for an evening of performance by Jennifer Allen aka Quilla Constance. Brixton Village | 7-8 pm |Places are limited – RSVP essential.
Call: 44(0)207 978 8309 or email lucy@198.org.uk
Sunday 19th April | Performance| Join us for an afternoon of performance by Jennifer Allen aka Quilla Constance 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning | 2-4 pm.
Monday 20th April | Deconstructing identities| An afternoon symposium @ UAL Chelsea College of Arts, 16 John Islip Street, London SW1P 4JU; bringing artists and academics together, creating a critical platform to highlight issues raised within the work of Jennifer Allen aka Quilla Constance. Speakers include Dr Mo Throp, Dr Ope Lori, Kirsten Cooke, Jennifer Allen and Maria Kheirkhah, chaired by Professor Toshio Watanabe| 1-5.30pm. This event is free but places are limited – RSVP essential. Call 44(0)207 978 8309 or email lucy@198.org.uk
Saturday 25th April | Artist & curator’s Talk and tour | 2-4 pm.
The Gallery is open Monday – Friday 11-5pm
+ please note that the gallery will also be open on Saturday 25th of April & Sunday 19th April 2015 | 11-5pm|
198 is located at the junction between
Railton Road and Hurst Street.
Train: Herne Hill
Tube: Brixton
Buses: 322, 196, 3, 37, 201, 68, 468 to
Herne Hill
There are two parking bays less than 10 metres from the building on Hurst Street, provided for
the disabled. There is pay and display parking on the surrounding streets. The building is accessible to wheelchair users with disabled and baby changing.
