Tschabalala Self

Known for her critically acclaimed paintings, Tschabalala Self will present her first live performance in the form of brief scenes from a play that she has written and directed. Taking place on a stage designed by the artist as a sculpture that closely resembles her collage-paintings, a male and female actor will perform scenes of dialogue using humor and exaggerated sincerity in a conversation that ranges from literal to nonsensical, to explore emotional communication, gender roles and power play within intimate relationships. A Boney M cover band will perform some of their greatest hits to emphasize moments of the staged drama, akin to a chorus in a Greek play. The sculpture-esque stage—set in the amphitheater bandstand of Jackie Robinson Park in Central Harlem––will be designed and painted by Self, using the brightly colored geometry of her paintings. In collaboration with UGG, as a prelude to the launch of her capsule collection with them in 2022, Self will design costumes and footwear for the performers, who appear to step out of her paintings onto the stage, bringing the domestic scenes she depicts in her canvases to life.