The Church of St Mary & St Eanswythe
Evening Session in Folkestone
Monstera Deliciosa + Kelvinatmadibrata + Léann Herlihy
︎︎︎ About the Venue
(original copy)
“Tiding continued into the evening in Folkestone at the Church of St Mary & St Eanswythe, a site of worship since the 7th century, with more vegan food and a further three performances by Monstera Deliciosa, Léann Herlihy and Kelvin Atmadibrata.
Kelvin Atmadibrata photographed by Manuel Vason.
“Aporisms of un (be)longing tug on the rope on the pew.
Scissors in hand:
open, closed, pointed
with legs uncrossed
you cut a whole in your knees:
a patellar viewing platform
capped to your joint,
on the edge of the scream: does it balance the care that your hands can’t contain?
You look through shins that hold the marks left from praying too hard for the rain to stop:
the blow of silence, no. one. notices.”
A Tiding with Kelvin Atmadibrata between Ivalice and St Eanswythe, selina bonelli writing on A Knight No More
︎︎︎ read the full textA Knight No More is a site-responsive work involving a body performing a (silence-d) gesture of grass whistling. He seemingly answers a series of occasional screams but remains muted throughout the performance. Accompanying him are four stacks of paper scattered around the site with a segregated script for the prologue of Square Enix’s 2007 Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions- which the screams are also borrowed from. Adopting elements of masculine identities, death and potentially violence, the presence of the work in The Church of St Mary & St Eanswythe unintentionally echoes with the church’s Unknown Soldier.
Léann Herlihy photographed by Manuel Vason.
“It's 18:32
“We're building something here for you and me
”
“We're building something here for you and me
A platform to recline on
regal.
I'm looking at you
thinking that your recline is arresting
Could this be a love letter?
”f**gt, Madinah Farhannah Thompson writing on Léann’s work
︎︎︎ read the full text
Monstera Deliciosa photographed by Manuel Vason and Tristan Broers.
“Watching Monstera sit at a church pew flipping through theory books - casually engaging with them, gripping and disregarding them - I am reminded of how the things I read stay with me, blend into my life or just pass through. In this context those theory books look heavy, but also comforting to think about the loud cacophony of thinking that is always going on, like a white noise.”
Horizonless Hopes, Sara Sassanelli writing on works by Sandra Johnston and Monstera Deliciosa
︎︎︎ read the full text“Hey there, Monstera here. Good on you for reading this! Since you’re here, I thought you should know that (spoiler alert) the majestic photograph exhibited is by Andrea Abbatangelo and portrays the gorgeous friend and icon Keijaun Thomas as she graced the banks of the Warren right here in Folkestone. Today we’re also taking contributions for her funding campaign for her upcoming gender affirming surgery: keep an eye out for the collection trays passed around during the performance or do approach us if you wish to make a donation otherwise. Happy to take your email address and send you a receipt of the donations transfered. Ah, to top it all of, you might also be hearing, seeing, sensating (traces of) works by ARCA, SOPHIE and Bence Magyarlaki - bring on this moment of trans and queer excellence and thank you for your soulful presence today!”