ABOUT
This project, developed by the artist Ebony G. Patterson, seeks to investigate the performative aspect of gender through explorations of the masculine as it constructed in popular Jamaican Dancehall culture, and is part of an ongoing body of work concerned with how masculine ideologies function within the Dancehall construct These particular performances however, were fabricated by the artist, utilizing Dancehall fashion, language and 'actors' who were directed by the artist in various scenarios.
Given the youth-driven nature of Dancehall, the artist worked with 14 young men and explored their own ideas about masculinity through fashion. Participants were asked to design outfits based on these ideas/ideals of manhood. The artist then had the outfits made and embellished for the participants to wear and model for pictures taken in a embellished 'photo studio,'posing and /or posturing as their ideal male. The photo studio space was constructed as a dollhouse based Georgian architecture,referencing both the domestic space and toys . Both object and space are important 'tools' for understanding how gender roles are shaped by and react to those of an early age. The 'studio' was located in downtown Kingston, Jamaica. All participants were able keep their hand embellished tailored outfits along with a photograph of themselves in said outfit.
Participants were documented in both clothing and space, not only photographically but also in video. The recording of the project was viewed live, virally projected to linked public spaces in Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Bermuda, the Bahamas, United States and the web,via Facebook, on March 10th, 2012. In addition a series of ten 'street interviews,' dubbed "Real Talk," were conducted with a number of young men from communities in and around downtown Kingston centering around a series of questions interrogating notions of "the masculine" as it relates to role- playing, performativity , fashion, home, relationships and community.
This site and downlodable catalog documents the evolution of this project as an archive.
This project was funded by the 2011 Rex Nettleford Fellowship for Cultural Studies, and supported by the Multi-Care Foundation of Jamaica, a not –for- profit organization working with youth from the inner city in the Arts and Sports.
ABOUT
This project, developed by the artist Ebony G. Patterson, seeks to investigate the performative aspect of gender through explorations of the masculine as it constructed in popular Jamaican Dancehall culture, and is part of an ongoing body of work concerned with how masculine ideologies function within the Dancehall construct These particular performances however, were fabricated by the artist, utilizing Dancehall fashion, language and 'actors' who were directed by the artist in various scenarios.
Given the youth-driven nature of Dancehall, the artist worked with 14 young men and explored their own ideas about masculinity through fashion. Participants were asked to design outfits based on these ideas/ideals of manhood. The artist then had the outfits made and embellished for the participants to wear and model for pictures taken in a embellished 'photo studio,'posing and /or posturing as their ideal male. The photo studio space was constructed as a dollhouse based Georgian architecture,referencing both the domestic space and toys . Both object and space are important 'tools' for understanding how gender roles are shaped by and react to those of an early age. The 'studio' was located in downtown Kingston, Jamaica. All participants were able keep their hand embellished tailored outfits along with a photograph of themselves in said outfit.
Participants were documented in both clothing and space, not only photographically but also in video. The recording of the project was viewed live, virally projected to linked public spaces in Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados, Bermuda, the Bahamas, United States and the web,via Facebook, on March 10th, 2012. In addition a series of ten 'street interviews,' dubbed "Real Talk," were conducted with a number of young men from communities in and around downtown Kingston centering around a series of questions interrogating notions of "the masculine" as it relates to role- playing, performativity , fashion, home, relationships and community.
This site and downlodable catalog documents the evolution of this project as an archive.
This project was funded by the 2011 Rex Nettleford Fellowship for Cultural Studies, and supported by the Multi-Care Foundation of Jamaica, a not –for- profit organization working with youth from the inner city in the Arts and Sports.
