Being Timberlina.
What is Being?
What is Timberlina?
Two questions Timberlina asks on a daily basis
What does Timberlina do?
Is Timberlina just attention seeking?
Is there a reason for doing anything?
Who does Timberlina think Timberlina is?
Is Timberlina just fulfilling that unquantifiable urge to create?
Or challenge, explore, obstruct, entertain, make, act, be etc
You are the spectator. So is Timberlina, observing the experience from behind the wig.
Timberlina wants to know what you think.
But should Timberlina care?
Should the spectator really care is Timberlina is there or not?
TIMBERLINA WANTS FEEDBACK
For 4 evenings from the 9th - 17th March, Timberlina will be installed
behind the Royal College of Art's Student Union Arts Bar between 6-8pm
Getting feedback enables the best possible service,
something Timberlina feels passionately about
Timberlina wants to know what you think-
on outfits, service and overall appearance and presentation.
Whilst serving behind the bar, Timberlina will be distributing feedback forms,
which will be collated and evaluated for development
There will be a chance to contribute in discreet vox pops
and participate in focus groups
Reflections and comments on the feedback process will be displayed on this blog.
My indebted thanks to Arkem, Benjamin, Colin and all of the Art Bar staff
Please give feedback generously.
Tuesday 9th March 2010: Timberlina Notes
So I am now responding to feedback. I enter into this excursion with mild trepidation. I start to think about my own expectations: what will the outcomes be? What will I be getting out of this experience?
I rule out my expectations. I should have none other than the moment at hand. What will I wear? Am I a performance artist or am I a drag queen? I care less about the feedback itself than the process of enduring the experience as a whole.
The drama provides itself as there is an incident just before I head into the bar to start my first shift
Did I make a spectacle of myself out in the Mews? And if so was that OK? My mind spirals into infinite self-induced quanderies about what wasn't there. What I did learn was that polyester skirts and fishnet tights have no wind resistance and are freezing cold. I think about real women, especially in northern reaches, who fearlessly wear so little when out on razzle on cold wintry nights. Respect...
Max takes photos of me to record the daily outfits
I am finally about to take my first steps into the bar. Watching this, I suddenly become aware of the truths in the Ego, Super Ego and Id complex. Me being on camera is contrived, but what the heck. I am purposefully attention seeking. But for what purpose? To observe, to make a project, to play about with the context of drag, and put it in places one might not expect.
I wonder if the posters in the corridor put people off coming to the Arts Bar. Tim doesn't want to be an imposition, but Timberlina doesn't care. It's Tim's constant 'not wanting to be an imposition' that makes Timberlina be more of one. Who is Timberlina? Is she a character or is she an extension of an existing personality?
'He/She's got nice legs'
That's what I'm looking for! The confusion about the gender. Timberlina is vessel for gender confusion.
I think I don't want to impose myself on those who feel confident about who they are and what they do.
I hope they acknowledge this- whoever they are.
I like the idea of subtle intervention, covert activism, subversion.
Where there are expectations an assumptions about the status quo- it's good to challenge them.
But sometimes the question of gender, sexuality or self-confidence never enters into the field of some people's lives. Is this what we all aspire to, envy in others, or fear for ourselves?
I liked the idea that I didn't really have to think about what to wear in the end... even though of course I did. I decided to start with a waitress's outfit and patented disshevelled hair...
At close of play I put the feedback forms up on the notice board. It's generally, for the most part in fact, friendly and generous, with a few useful, critical observations.
I like that the feedback forms create a bit of imposition and force people to think- or maybe not think, but roll their eyes... either way, it's a good thing.
There is no rhyme or reason to how I've put the messages on the board. I wonder if anything will happen to them...
Wednesday 10th March: Timberlina Notes
Will anybody read this? make comments?
One of the bar staff asks me if I am an artist- a performance artist? It is a good question. I say that I am a performance artist. But who is she asking? Who am I when I am working behind the bar...?
This idea of 'a new generation' is brilliant. If the new generation is 'at ease with mixing dress dress, gender and sexuality for that matter, shouldn't somebody tell the older generation?
I refer back to what I was saying about not wanting to be an imposition for those who are at ease with themselves and for whom this endeavour is, not so much rededundent (?) but of no relevence.
But to be acknowledged in this infomred way is great news, great feedback.
Not everyone is informed.
Not everyone wants to be informed.
And how would they be informed and by which channels? Dare I say there are some socio-political implications there.
So perhaps there is some use to this project after all...
I think as long as somebody, somehwere enjoys it, gets to take something, then that's good.
I wouldn't want to ram Timberlina down anyone's neck!
Some key words that come to mind following the first week, general words from the perspective of both artist and the spectator:
EXPECTATION
PRECONCEPTION
INFORMANT
IMPOSITION
I wonder what next week will bring...
Tuesday 16th March
It's not the paving stones I'm interested in, it's what's in the cracks in between that interests me...
Decontextualising drag... is a drag? Who is the audience, though, and what's their perspective? What's their experience? It's relative. I'm not trying to be shocking, or imposing. Or am I? I just like working behind the bar. As for a uniform? Don't we all wear a uniform to work- even stylised saggy jeans and a T-shirt, tells the world you are. Remember the days when you wouldn't be seen dead in something from Topshop? Or Primark? And now we gloat over F***accinos with our big paper bags from Harvey Nichs and Primarche... Consistency? There is none. So banish your expectation. Never take anything for granted. Challenge the status quo- apathy = death and all that...
Wednesday 17th march (Commentary to follow)
Art can be such a Drag!
A Note from Benjamin Sebastian- Video Maker, 17th March 2010
Watching Timberlina through the camera lens is like watching Timberlina with ones own eyes. Odd really. What I mean is usually when you put a camera on people you get a mildly different aspect (or performance) of people. Not so with Timberlina. This could too easily be dismissed with the critique that Timberlina is already performing therefore we are seeing the same (different) aspect of (Tim)berlina as we are seeing of an individual performing to camera. I think this posits us in a very interesting space. I recently helped Tim Redfern document the latest component of his Live Art practise at the Royal College of Art. (Tim)berlina took on the duties of pint puller in The Art Bar and I filmed the process, interviewing people to get feedback as to what they though, if anything, of 'the Drag behind the bar'. It instantly became clear that space (and time) had everything to do with peoples reactions and that the subjects of gender, sexuality and non-normative lifestyle choices are still contemporary issues.
The general consensus to seeing a Drag Queen behind the bar pulling pints appeared to be feigned indifference. I say feigned because of the language which underpinned the flawed (performances of) indifference.
"I mean, last week we had a band wearing spray painted-on costumes, so this is sort of what happens here, but I can understand that somewhere else it might cause a stir."
"I didn't think anything of it, until I looked up and saw her, his -[punter laughs]- beard!"
"I don't get it, is she, he... are they performing?"
This "Yeah what-ever, a Drag Queen pulling pints in an art bar" seems to be actually saying, "Hang on, that's a dude, with a beard, in chics' clothes and why is this happening here? Is it art?"
Positing the lifestyle of Drag as a Live Art practice fucks with the art-life dualism in such a way that highlights the still interruptive qualities of non-normative behaviour and lifestyle choice(s).
The fact that Tim is being Timberlina being a Drag Queen as an art practice collapses notions of dualism in favour of multiplicit ways of being. Multiple realities are lived simultaneously by the artist while being experienced by their other(s), the audience and/or social group.
The most interesting (to me) reaction came as a two-fold response. I asked a small group of people to comment on what (Tim)berlina was doing and to camera I received rresponses such as:
"I like his shoes."
"It doesn't bother me."
"I like the beard."
"I don't like the beard."
I thanked them for their responses and walked away. Moments later one of the women asked me to come back because they had some questions to ask me, off camera. I was then bombarded with questions of
"What is he trying to do?"
"Is it really Drag, I mean he is wearing a bath robe and it is really hiding all things that you would want to emphasise, right?"
"In the context of an Arts establishment do you think it is enough just to be a Drag Queen behind a bar? Surely there needs to be something deeper, more profound to it?"
Having felt the need to remain off camera for this line of questioning it felt (to me) as though there was some need to hide the real questions, to maintain some sort of anonymity to their authenticity. Such notions of representation are the site at which (Tim)berlina choices to execute his (live) artistic practice.
In a space where all manner of non-normative actions and objects apparently occur, why is a man with a beard dressed as a woman working in an art bar evoking a passive-aggressive display of responses? What is Drag and who does it? Where does Drag (not) happen? Is Drag a Live Art practice?
"Another pint please Love. Er, Sir....?"
What is Being?
What is Timberlina?
Two questions Timberlina asks on a daily basis
What does Timberlina do?
Is Timberlina just attention seeking?
Is there a reason for doing anything?
Who does Timberlina think Timberlina is?
Is Timberlina just fulfilling that unquantifiable urge to create?
Or challenge, explore, obstruct, entertain, make, act, be etc
You are the spectator. So is Timberlina, observing the experience from behind the wig.
Timberlina wants to know what you think.
But should Timberlina care?
Should the spectator really care is Timberlina is there or not?
TIMBERLINA WANTS FEEDBACK
For 4 evenings from the 9th - 17th March, Timberlina will be installed
behind the Royal College of Art's Student Union Arts Bar between 6-8pm
Getting feedback enables the best possible service,
something Timberlina feels passionately about
Timberlina wants to know what you think-
on outfits, service and overall appearance and presentation.
Whilst serving behind the bar, Timberlina will be distributing feedback forms,
which will be collated and evaluated for development
There will be a chance to contribute in discreet vox pops
and participate in focus groups
Reflections and comments on the feedback process will be displayed on this blog.
My indebted thanks to Arkem, Benjamin, Colin and all of the Art Bar staff
Please give feedback generously.
Tuesday 9th March 2010: Timberlina Notes
So I am now responding to feedback. I enter into this excursion with mild trepidation. I start to think about my own expectations: what will the outcomes be? What will I be getting out of this experience?
I rule out my expectations. I should have none other than the moment at hand. What will I wear? Am I a performance artist or am I a drag queen? I care less about the feedback itself than the process of enduring the experience as a whole.
The drama provides itself as there is an incident just before I head into the bar to start my first shift
Did I make a spectacle of myself out in the Mews? And if so was that OK? My mind spirals into infinite self-induced quanderies about what wasn't there. What I did learn was that polyester skirts and fishnet tights have no wind resistance and are freezing cold. I think about real women, especially in northern reaches, who fearlessly wear so little when out on razzle on cold wintry nights. Respect...
Max takes photos of me to record the daily outfits
I am finally about to take my first steps into the bar. Watching this, I suddenly become aware of the truths in the Ego, Super Ego and Id complex. Me being on camera is contrived, but what the heck. I am purposefully attention seeking. But for what purpose? To observe, to make a project, to play about with the context of drag, and put it in places one might not expect.
I wonder if the posters in the corridor put people off coming to the Arts Bar. Tim doesn't want to be an imposition, but Timberlina doesn't care. It's Tim's constant 'not wanting to be an imposition' that makes Timberlina be more of one. Who is Timberlina? Is she a character or is she an extension of an existing personality?
'He/She's got nice legs'
That's what I'm looking for! The confusion about the gender. Timberlina is vessel for gender confusion.
I think I don't want to impose myself on those who feel confident about who they are and what they do.
I hope they acknowledge this- whoever they are.
I like the idea of subtle intervention, covert activism, subversion.
Where there are expectations an assumptions about the status quo- it's good to challenge them.
But sometimes the question of gender, sexuality or self-confidence never enters into the field of some people's lives. Is this what we all aspire to, envy in others, or fear for ourselves?
I liked the idea that I didn't really have to think about what to wear in the end... even though of course I did. I decided to start with a waitress's outfit and patented disshevelled hair...
At close of play I put the feedback forms up on the notice board. It's generally, for the most part in fact, friendly and generous, with a few useful, critical observations.
I like that the feedback forms create a bit of imposition and force people to think- or maybe not think, but roll their eyes... either way, it's a good thing.
There is no rhyme or reason to how I've put the messages on the board. I wonder if anything will happen to them...
Wednesday 10th March: Timberlina Notes
Will anybody read this? make comments?
One of the bar staff asks me if I am an artist- a performance artist? It is a good question. I say that I am a performance artist. But who is she asking? Who am I when I am working behind the bar...?
This idea of 'a new generation' is brilliant. If the new generation is 'at ease with mixing dress dress, gender and sexuality for that matter, shouldn't somebody tell the older generation?
I refer back to what I was saying about not wanting to be an imposition for those who are at ease with themselves and for whom this endeavour is, not so much rededundent (?) but of no relevence.
But to be acknowledged in this infomred way is great news, great feedback.
Not everyone is informed.
Not everyone wants to be informed.
And how would they be informed and by which channels? Dare I say there are some socio-political implications there.
So perhaps there is some use to this project after all...
I think as long as somebody, somehwere enjoys it, gets to take something, then that's good.
I wouldn't want to ram Timberlina down anyone's neck!
Some key words that come to mind following the first week, general words from the perspective of both artist and the spectator:
EXPECTATION
PRECONCEPTION
INFORMANT
IMPOSITION
I wonder what next week will bring...
Tuesday 16th March
It's not the paving stones I'm interested in, it's what's in the cracks in between that interests me...
Decontextualising drag... is a drag? Who is the audience, though, and what's their perspective? What's their experience? It's relative. I'm not trying to be shocking, or imposing. Or am I? I just like working behind the bar. As for a uniform? Don't we all wear a uniform to work- even stylised saggy jeans and a T-shirt, tells the world you are. Remember the days when you wouldn't be seen dead in something from Topshop? Or Primark? And now we gloat over F***accinos with our big paper bags from Harvey Nichs and Primarche... Consistency? There is none. So banish your expectation. Never take anything for granted. Challenge the status quo- apathy = death and all that...
Wednesday 17th march (Commentary to follow)
Art can be such a Drag!
A Note from Benjamin Sebastian- Video Maker, 17th March 2010
Watching Timberlina through the camera lens is like watching Timberlina with ones own eyes. Odd really. What I mean is usually when you put a camera on people you get a mildly different aspect (or performance) of people. Not so with Timberlina. This could too easily be dismissed with the critique that Timberlina is already performing therefore we are seeing the same (different) aspect of (Tim)berlina as we are seeing of an individual performing to camera. I think this posits us in a very interesting space. I recently helped Tim Redfern document the latest component of his Live Art practise at the Royal College of Art. (Tim)berlina took on the duties of pint puller in The Art Bar and I filmed the process, interviewing people to get feedback as to what they though, if anything, of 'the Drag behind the bar'. It instantly became clear that space (and time) had everything to do with peoples reactions and that the subjects of gender, sexuality and non-normative lifestyle choices are still contemporary issues.
The general consensus to seeing a Drag Queen behind the bar pulling pints appeared to be feigned indifference. I say feigned because of the language which underpinned the flawed (performances of) indifference.
"I mean, last week we had a band wearing spray painted-on costumes, so this is sort of what happens here, but I can understand that somewhere else it might cause a stir."
"I didn't think anything of it, until I looked up and saw her, his -[punter laughs]- beard!"
"I don't get it, is she, he... are they performing?"
This "Yeah what-ever, a Drag Queen pulling pints in an art bar" seems to be actually saying, "Hang on, that's a dude, with a beard, in chics' clothes and why is this happening here? Is it art?"
Positing the lifestyle of Drag as a Live Art practice fucks with the art-life dualism in such a way that highlights the still interruptive qualities of non-normative behaviour and lifestyle choice(s).
The fact that Tim is being Timberlina being a Drag Queen as an art practice collapses notions of dualism in favour of multiplicit ways of being. Multiple realities are lived simultaneously by the artist while being experienced by their other(s), the audience and/or social group.
The most interesting (to me) reaction came as a two-fold response. I asked a small group of people to comment on what (Tim)berlina was doing and to camera I received rresponses such as:
"I like his shoes."
"It doesn't bother me."
"I like the beard."
"I don't like the beard."
I thanked them for their responses and walked away. Moments later one of the women asked me to come back because they had some questions to ask me, off camera. I was then bombarded with questions of
"What is he trying to do?"
"Is it really Drag, I mean he is wearing a bath robe and it is really hiding all things that you would want to emphasise, right?"
"In the context of an Arts establishment do you think it is enough just to be a Drag Queen behind a bar? Surely there needs to be something deeper, more profound to it?"
Having felt the need to remain off camera for this line of questioning it felt (to me) as though there was some need to hide the real questions, to maintain some sort of anonymity to their authenticity. Such notions of representation are the site at which (Tim)berlina choices to execute his (live) artistic practice.
In a space where all manner of non-normative actions and objects apparently occur, why is a man with a beard dressed as a woman working in an art bar evoking a passive-aggressive display of responses? What is Drag and who does it? Where does Drag (not) happen? Is Drag a Live Art practice?
"Another pint please Love. Er, Sir....?"
