Are You A Boy Or A Girl?

Are You A Boy Or A Girl? (clip), Chaz Howkins, 2017, film

3 minute clip of a 30 minute film intended to be played on a loop.

Too often strangers feel that the way I look gives them the right to ask me “are you a boy or a girl?”.  I created a durational performance film of myself repeating this phrase because when people ask me this, it’s a one off experience for them, but it’s something that stays with me and continues to happen, so the idea is that the film plays continuously and the audience will dip in and out of this interrogative experience.

Does It Matter? Leicester Exhibition

After my Does It Matter? Exhibition in Loughborough, I was approached by Trade Sexual Health, a Leicester based LGBT sexual health charity, and asked to bring my exhibition to their office.  As the exhibition took place in their office space, it was a one night event so as not to be too disruptive to their work.  The exhibition was highly successful as it drew in a more diverse crowd compared to the Loughborough exhibition which was attended mainly by Loughborough students.

Does it matter? Opening Night

The private view of my first ever solo exhibition was a huge success, couldn't be happier with how it went.  I performed for the duration of the opening (2 hours) interacting with the audience and engaging them with my work.

Nine Frames Project (Loughborough Whispers Performance)

Aftermath of performance

I took part in an interactive performance called Loughborough Whispers, a take on Chinese Whispers, during which several artists were supplied with a range of materials and took it in turns to create something, picking up where the last left off.

Nine Frames Project (stage four)

Stage four exhibits the aftermath of my performances.  The room is now covered in blood (paint) to portray the death of my creativity in a very literal sense.  Everything has been torn off the walls and now lays on the floor in heaps, showcasing my hatred for my work and how I don't care what happens to it.  The plastic sheeting became very effective at this stage as the space was now less accessible due to the paint covering the floor but viewers could still see inside through the 'walls' and their view is now distorted by the paint splatters.

Nine Frames Project (Performances)

Nine Frames Project (Performance)

The Death Of Creativity, Chaz Howkins, 2015, performance

In this performance I occupied my space by laying down in it and sleeping to express a sense of having given up.