CAI NYAHOE ‘ TOWARDS A SEMI-AUTONOMOUS SELF-PERPETUATING ART (PHONE SEX) Preview: 6PM – 8PM 13th NOVEMBER 2009

CAI NYAHOE

TOWARDS A SEMI-AUTONOMOUS SELF-PERPETUATING ART (PHONE SEX)

Preview: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Friday 13th November 2009
SATELLITE
61 Thornton Street
Newcastle Upon Tyne

NE1 4AW

United Kingdom

10:30 AM – 6:00 PM, Monday to Saturday

SATELLITE is proud to present

Towards a semi-autonomous self-perpetuating art (phone sex) an audio installation by Cai Nyahoe

Duration: 5min 44sec

(phone sex) presents a recent audio work in which Cai Nyahoe initiates a conversation  with a stranger surrounding his artistic practice by calling a sex line.

During the length of the phone call (that dictates the duration of the artwork) Nyahoe broaches a discussion regarding his practice with this outsider  who is completely unfamiliar with its terms or manifestations and yet is willing to embrace it on a wholly accepting level on the terms of her aim to satisfy Nyahoe’s desire – in this case to be accepted as an artist.

The ambiguous tone of the conversation in which the phrase “my art / your art” is used repeatedly but without specification questions the level of autonomy that exists in artistic practice.

This sound piece is part of a series of works primarily exploring the role of the viewer in the production of art. In this piece the artist is seeking to restructure the contract between producer and consumer in a manner that favours the producer. This process has created a number of subtexts/by-products.

Though no specific work is discussed a temporal work is generated through allusions to the dimensions of the piece. Although these dimensions vary in relation to the ‘tasks’ requested by the artist – a device that simultaneously asserts and surrenders control of the work. In the context of other related pieces in particular “I really like you” (2007) Nyahoe has created a persona that is representative of a tendency inherent in the exhibition of work namely; the desire of the artist to seek external approval and conformation.

Though this notion is taken to an extreme in this project these pieces while at times humorous are not entirely satirical. (phone sex) also inevitably leads the listener/viewer to question the nature of coercion and acceptable modes of behaviour in marginalised and inherently exploitative industries (in this case the sex trade). For the duration of the call certain unspoken rules are observed and a dual narrative is created: that of the artist seeking affirmation and the ‘client’ seeking physical gratification.

It should be noted that although obscenity has been edited from the piece this is NOT in order to increase its palatability but rather to highlight the complicity of those hearing the work in the unfolding dialogue.