| Other works by this Artist |
|
 |
City Gallery
30 May – 22 Aug 2004 |
|
 |
Curatorial
Statement | Artist's
Résumé
Steve Carr plays with differing notions of the artist's role
as a documenter of the world around him by placing himself
in his videos, photographs and performances; at times a removed
observer, at other times an actively engaged participant.
In the DVD Dive Pool, Carr takes the role of the observer,
a Jacques Cousteau-like persona documenting a mythical underwater
world. Young models swim past, their lithe bodies joyfully
twisting in the water like mermaids, whilst Carr, fully clad
in scuba gear, watches them. Obviously aware of the artist's
presence, the women frolic like strange otherworldly creatures.
At the same time, the scenario could have uncomfortable implications
with the artist tapping into a universal fear of being watched.
In contrast to Dive Pool's examination of the artist
as a distanced witness, other works by Carr position the artist
as a willing victim or play-thing of society. Two further
works at the gallery entrance-way show Carr discarding the
detachment of an observer and jumping, boots and all, into
riotous children's games. In Hay Fight, Carr is the
willing victim in a playfight where four girls pelt him with
hay, covering him until he is nearly invisible. The glee on
their faces at having convinced an adult to participate in
their game is palpable. In Cowboys and Indians, Carr
is chased by three boys dressed as American Indians. Dressed
as a sheriff and entering into the game as enthusiastically
as the children, Carr seems to suggest that perhaps artists
are the last adults to retain a sense of child-like play and
wonder.
Since his early days as a sweaty Elvis-like crooner, not to mention his period as white trash rapper DJ Clock, performance artist Steve Carr has assumed characters with chameleon-like ease. These days the characters are more suave, and the situations run the gamut from smashing up a car with teenage boys to handing out ice-creams to children, but the artist is always located at the very heart of the work - he is the star.
Emma Bugden
|
|
|
|
|
