Chav at First Sight 2008-2011 

The performances can be read as multifaceted, re-evaluating the self-portrait while commenting on social division in the UK today. Chav at First Sight can be seen as challenging the traditional values and context of self-portraiture as a symbol of wealth and class. Traditionally portrait subjects posed to benefit their social status whereas today the chav’s tracksuit bottoms and baseball caps denote their social status but attract hostility and are ultimately detrimental. 

Alongside the photographic and performance work, I am writing an epic poem describing the journey of a chav and the affect he has on his world with reference to the Epic of Gilgamesh, Virgil’s Aenied, Beowolf and Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad. I am also making miniature narrative paintings depicting these tales in the style of Italian medieval art. Tiff Oben and I are also collaborating on a piece of textile work on Burberry tapestry featuring the stories from the epic poem. We plan to perform the epic poem as they were originally intended in the oral poetic tradition.