2 x Pussy Riot + ORLAN = Fem-Wise-Dom
210 Rue Saint-Denis, Paris
Friday, 14 January, 2022
ORLAN performs in the window of 210 Rue Saint Denis
Photo by Gérard Uféras
As the crowd thronged through the door of 210 Rue Saint-Denis last Friday in Paris, gradually flooding the ground floor, they were greeted with a unique performance by the legendary artist ORLAN.
ORLAN emerges through a print of her vulva at 210 Rue Saint Denis
© Gérard Uféras
Ensemble
She began by opening the lips of a giant print of her own vulva, began screaming, whining, cajoling and enticing the audience in a durational repetition of the phrases «pussy» and « chat » in magnificent Dada — or one might say Mada — fashion. It seemed so simple, almost too simple, too easy, until… until it didn’t stop. For untold minutes her shouts, barks, yelps and squeals kept the audience undecided, until people broke into a low chortle, then open laughs, then cheers and ovations!
In a second act, flanked virtually by Nadya Tolokonnikova and Nika Nikulshina of Pussy Riot, ORLAN employed cut-out face-masks of the same image of her vulva. The odd choreography of Tolokonnikova’s “SEXIST” in the left vitrine, ORLAN’s imposing high-haired figure in the centre, and Nika Nikulshina seen alternatively raising the vulva-mask to her face, and charging the FIFA World Cup Final in Moscow on the right (the famous Pussy Riot intervention), was mirrored and amplified by the vulva-mask-wearing flashmob of dancers and the audience in the street.
ORLAN dances «The Slow» with AR co-director Ivor Stodolsky
© Gérard Uféras
Ensemble
As ORLAN later descended to mingle and play with the adoring crowd, she engaged the assembly in her latest artistic format: “The Slow” — an intimate dance with friends and strangers alike.
It was one of those inappropriate, unfathomable moments of joy in a Temporary Autonomous Zone (TAZ) which only such spaces as the 210 give warrant…!
We would like to extend our very special thanks to everyone involved for their camaraderie and incredible enthusiasm and impromptu support in realising this event!
The legendary performance took place at The 210, an occupied house and safe haven for unhoused migrants Artists at Risk (AR) was invited to play a part in.
Artists at Risk (AR) wishes to express its thanks to the award-winning photographer Gérard Uféras for the remarkable images he captured of the event. Many of them are artworks in their own right.
See highlights of the evening in our gallery below.
Photo Credits: Gerard Uferas (http://www.gerarduferas.com/) and Ewen C.
