Carl-Johan Paulsen

Installation - “Symphony of 13 - System of 12”

In the installation “Symphony of 13 - System of 12” twelve different natural fibers (6 plant based and 6 animal based) have been woven and fabricated into a long textile piece, stretched onto a frame of a perfect circle of 12 sections. The fibers have been handed down to Carl-Johan from different people in their life; teachers, friends, colleges, family, students, mentors, lovers, classmates, and roomies. With great care each fiber is woven and shaped into the fabric, following the rhythm and flow, the qualities and the limitations each one inhabits. Each different section of the weave is woven in a unique pattern that constantly shifts according to 12 and 13 threads.

 

The 13th piece of the weave has been separated, and moved away from the circle. It is woven in all the 12 patterns of the main weave, and made of plastic. Woven with a fishing thread, supposed to be invisible in both water, tricking fish, and in exhibitions, tricking guests. A wig is woven into the piece, making this piece a bodywear; both turned into a corset and a wig. It is made in this way, to help the performer embody oil, plastic, the outcast of fibers, the 13th. The fishing thread and the wig is made from oil, heated to a certain temperature where it turns into petroleum and becomes malleable. In the space you will see petroleum in an aquarium next to the 13th weave. Oil becomes a trickster, tricking humans into utilizing it, while slowly destroying the planet and causing living hell to our ecosystems and millions of people.

 

Performance - “Notorious Being”

Just like the materials were handed down, so was their knowledge, and experience of drag through the family of The House of Hopelezz, which is part of Carl-Johan’s artistic practice. Drag mothering is a way of passing down knowledge, just like the stories and the myths that shape our understanding of the world. The installation will be activated with the performance “Notorious Being” wherein Carl-Johan invites a drag sibling to join them on the stage as a guest star - a new ‘13th’ for each performance. Together with Lau they will be weaving and whispering systems of 12, symphonies of 13 while listening to the sound of clay dissolving in petroleum.

 

Drag Night - “Tricksters Unite!”

The work extends into a further drag exploration “Tricksters Unite!” with a full performance block showcasing and questioning different shapes of drag performativity - from entertainment, to activism, to exhibitionism, to campness.

 

Context:

The System of 12 and the 13th as an outcast

In many ways of looking at the world, such as Norse- and Greek mythology, westernized “new age” astrology and Christianity, we are presented with rigid systems. One thing that seems to translate in all of these, is a perfect system of 12; presented as 12 Gods, 12 star signs or 12 disciples.. In this number everything aligns, until the 13th symbol - the outcast - abrupts the harmony. Nothing can be divided evenly. The characteristics of the 13th as an outcast in the system is often queer coded. An example is Norse Mythology’s half-God Loki; always shapeshifting and tricking the other Gods. The 13th character always points out the imperfection of the applied system, always trying to break the mold of perception. In many ways a drag performer is also a trickster and an outcast, not welcome in many spaces, but still finding their way to peek out, provoke, insist and exist in between. For Carl-Johan and their artistic practice the ‘13th character’ and drag becomes a way to play with the accepted codes and show their fragility.

 

Credits: Lau, Lady Bag, Miss Koko Kaneel, Phallic Patrick, Broomstick, Taka Taka, LatinXCharm, Puszi Puszi, Slyfox, Indie Nile, Leo Patra, Remon van den Kommer, Christin Johansson, Jennifer Hopelezz, Severine Amsing, Riet Wijnen, Kees, Rick Haring, Karl Moubarak, Bente Brunia and Elektra Tatalia-Aloupi.