Center for Curatorial Studies and Center for Indigenous Studies Present

Portraits in red

Portraits in red investigates the dominant standard of beauty and puts in question the image of the body. The dominance of the European and US beauty and fashion industries’ capitalization and globalization of a homogenized standard of beauty is the springboard for the work’s research. Portraits in red examines conflicting ideas, issues and challenges identified with the politics of the body such as dominance, oppression, assimilation, objectification and exotification. This is propelled by an ingrained need to adapt and assimilate into a Western, biased mold of what connotes beauty. Portraits in red is a universal narrative that is bold, brave, and uncompromising in its mission. This performance is free, registration required.

Born into a bi-cultural home (Kenya/USA) and having lived on three continents (Africa, North America and Europe), Wanjiru Kamuyu continues to be intrigued by each society’s general relationship to the notion of beauty and the provocations that arise around the image of the body. Based on the 2013 reconstruction of a 2005 solo, Spiral, she decided to revisit the idea in collaboration with the artistic expertise of choreographer and dramaturge Robyn Orlin. Her intrigue with the notion and definition of beauty, particularly in the case of the female body, serve as her points of inquiry.

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Portraits in red at Bard College is hosted by Center for Indigenous Studies and Center for Curatorial Studies. Wanjiru Kamuyu is a Visiting Artist in Residence through the Bard Dance/Villa Albertine partnership.

Wanjiru Kamuyu, native Kenyan and based in Paris, France, is associate artist with the National Choreographic Center Nantes (France), a Live Feed artist with New York Live Arts (USA) and seasons 2022 to 2024 was associate artist with Theater L’Onde (Vélizy, France).
Kamuyu founded dance company, WKcollective, which is associate company with creative production agency camin aktion (Montpellier, France). Her choreographic works “Portaits in red”, “An Immigrant’s Story”, “Fragmented Shadows” and dance short “La visite” tour in the US, Africa, Asia and Europe.

Her career began with its genesis in New York City. Kamuyu holds a MFA (performance & choreography) from Temple University (Philadelphia, PA). She has served as Visiting Guest Professor at Mills College (USA) and is currently core faculty for University of South Florida’s Dance in Paris semester and summer programs.

Credits
Choreography & Performance: Wanjiru Kamuyu
Dramaturgy: Robyn Orlin
Musique (composition): Nate May
Musique (arrangement): lacrymoboy
Costume conception: Robyn Orlin
Costume execution: Birigit Neppl
Production: WKcollective, a dance company
Diffusion: camin aktion | caminaktion.eu

For more information, call 845-758-6822, e-mail [email protected],
or visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/portraits-in-red-tickets-1046950155097.

Time: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm EST/GMT-5

Location: Hessel Museum

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