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Artworks
Rose ENGLISH British, b. 1950
Study for A Divertissement: Diana and Porcelain Lace Veil, 1973/2013Set of five cibachrome photographs30 x 21.5 cm eachEdition of 5 plus 3 AP'sThe audience entered and stood facing a blue ruched satin curtain fringed with ballet pointe shoes. The pianist started to play and the curtain rose slowly to the music as...The audience entered and stood facing a blue ruched satin curtain fringed with ballet pointe shoes. The pianist started to play and the curtain rose slowly to the music as the dancer moved on pointe behind the curtain, her shoes revealed flashing between the pointe shoes edging the curtain. As the curtain rose the performance area was revealed – hanging in the centre of the space was a lace veil made of porcelain. Behind the veil, on the floor, was a large feather mattress covered in ticking and tied up with a stain ribbon. Hanging behind the mattress was a large mirror. Lying on the floor either side of the mattress were two porcelain cache-sexe hearts attached to satin sashes. On one side of the space was a plinth with a large urn full of scented flowers – stocks, lilies, and carnations. On the floor on the other side of the space an electric fan gently purred, wafting the heavily scented atmosphere.
The dancer crossed over to the mattress, untied the ribbon and rolled the mattress back revealing two women, naked and asleep. The dancer crossed to the side of the space and stood watching. The two women woke, stretched and started to anoint each other – they sprayed each other with perfume on the wrists and neck and powdered each others' bottoms with a swansdown powder puff. One by one they picked up the porcelain hearts and tied them around each others' hips. The two women then rose from the mattress and walked in a wide arc either side of the space until they reached the front. Then slowly, with the music, they walked towards each other until they faced each other and let the two hearts they were wearing touch, making a clinking sound of china against china. They then turned and walked to the back of the space. The dancer then crossed the space and stood behind the lace veil. The two women walked again in an arc to the front of the space. Again, slowly, they walked towards each other until they faced each other. They then kissed each other on the lips. As their lips met the veil crashed to the ground, breaking into thousands of pieces and revealing the fact that it too was made of porcelain. The three women stood amongst the pieces of the broken veil as the blue ruched curtain slowly fell and the music ended.
The performance was presented twice.
– Description by the artist, 1985Exhibitions
Rose English, Museum der Moderne Kunst, Salzburg, 20242of 2