The queer ether of self-taught delusion.
The blurby bit
WHY NOT CHOP THEM OFF: an exhibition on ‘having trans-masc tits’
As part of their MRes studies, kars dodds (they/them) has curated WHY NOT CHOP THEM OFF as a means of documentation towards the futurity of queer, non-binary, and transgender people. Take a peak into the artist’s lived experience of ‘having tits’ as a trans-masculine, non-binary person through photo and written documentation, soft sculpture and performance.
“WHY NOT CHOP THEM OFF” documents and explores their experience of ‘having tits’ as a non-binary, trans-masculine individual on a fluid gender transition journey. The project aims to protest the sensationalised medicalization of transgender and gender non-conforming people and to spread awareness that GENDER AFFIRMING CARE IS LIFESAVING.
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Kars (they/them) is a movement-based, material-inspired multidisciplinary artist/performer who enjoys running furiously, far away from technique into the queer ether of self-taught delusion. Their most current project ‘WHY NOT CHOP THEM OFF’ documents and explores their relationship to their non-binary/transmasc tits on their fluid approach to gender transition, and aims to protest the sensationalized medicalization of transgender/gender non-conforming people.
From the Eventbrite listing
The exhibition
Balloons, torn paper and plastic bags in a display case. Lettered balloons on the wall which spelt out ‘squeeze me’. Some pubes in a plastic- bra and knickers hanging from a coat hanger. Photographs of the dummy Kars was to occasionally lie on during performance. Several dozen photos of the artiste topless or about to lift up her jumper (oo-er). Or sometimes taped.
Art which made us think; even we could do that.
The performance
This is the needle off the record bit. You’d think that Kars they/them might have something to tell the world about ‘why not chop them off’? Unfortunately this communication didn’t reach the oral stage and instead jumped up and down on the spot. Naked. For an hour. My god. We busted our arse to get ourselves south of the river. We missed Body AttackTM. We could have been on our patio, shivering in England’s summertime. Instead we had to watch Little Mx “I’m a nutcase me” pogo up and down. We endured. We knew at some point it would end. However, it really is our fault, since we didn’t bother reading the programme notes (Doh!) which describes in detail, what they/them planned to do.
endurance under dead weight, a score:
enter space.
undress.
prepare materials (pink and blue kt tape, scissors, sneakers).
enter chosen frame. find center.
starting with a slow bounce, increase efforts to a light jump. continue until exhaustion or failure.
catch breath.
bind tits.
re-center. dress. exit.
We have to say though, ‘slow bounce, increase efforts to light jump’ was very impressive. Kars’ friends also did a sterling performance of not running from the room screaming. On the plus side, Kars doesn’t appear to be personally in receipt of any Arts Council England funding. Yet. But we’re sure it’s only a matter of time.
The Venue
However, the hosting venue, Turf Projects, is. A whopping total income of £324,737 for the last financial year. Plus money from Croydon Council. The Charity Commission entry states it received two governments grants to the tune of £145,000. Meanwhile, people we know in full time jobs can’t afford to rent one bedroom flats or pay for groceries. Makes us fucking sick.
That’s all we have to say about it really. Though a friend did have a reflection we think worth sharing: Trans means never having to explain yourself.
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