Caves, caverns and dark hidden spaces are often the birthplace for historic musical and other significant visceral events. Exactly forty years ago Led Zeppelin staged a media party at Chislehurst Caves in Kent, to launch their Swan Song record label and release the label’s first album, Silk Torpedo by The Pretty Things. The event was extreme, it was decadent, it was hedonistic and excessive. It was cock rock in full swing.
Inspired by this event, and the format and ambitions of media and industry parties, artist Cushla Donaldson has created ‘Supergroup’ in association with Beck’s beer. Donaldson has invited the band Las Tetas, Turner Prize winning artist Laure Prouvost and others to participate in her celebration of the complex nature of the Epic and the Indulgent in relation to socio-political realities, at the Audio Foundation. Donaldson views the Audio Foundation, literally ‘underground’, as an ideal space for this event.
Cushla Donaldson is an Elam graduate and graduated with an MFA from Goldsmiths College, London in 2007, supported by the Anne Reid scholarship from the University of Auckland. Donaldson’s practice exhibits both erudite technical exploration and rigorous conceptual journeys. She has become known for her witty and panoptic engagement with the gendered hierarchy of aesthetics and their applications. She has exhibited regularly in both New Zealand and Europe; recent solo exhibitions include Feminine Touches at Ferari Gallery, Auckland, 2012 and Cushla Donaldson & Fisher and Paykel present The Truth at 30upstairs Gallery, Wellington, 2013.
Supergroup opening from 5:30pm on Wednesday the 5th of February. Performance featuring Las Tetas and others from 6.30pm. Afterparty at Whammy Bar featuring East Brunswick Girls Choir, Rackets and Wilberforces.
Screenings of this performance and Laure Provost’s film “The Wanderer (Betty Drunk)” will be on display as part of the exhibition from Thursday 6 February. Acompanying text provided by Nicola Verdon.
Artist Q&A with Janet McAllister Saturday 22 February, 2pm start, free entry @ the Audio Foundation.
Exhibition runs until Saturday 1 March 2014.
Special thanks to Becks and Creative New Zealand for their support.