'Twine, Twiddle, Twine' and 'Spik or Spec'
Four performances over three days at Acme Open Studios
Robinson Road Open Studios 2024
25th-27th October, London, 2024
Twine Twiddle Twine
And
Spik or Spec
Twine Twiddle Twine
I am sitting on a high stool in the entrance/ante-chamber of my studio, with the door closed - the audience are in the corridor outside and I open the door to begin. I sit on the stool, and remove my shoe, and rhythmically tap the soles together. I lick my finger-tip each time I tap, then touch the sole. I drop my shoe, stand, and untie my hair - I twine my hair and pull myself up by my head. I balance on one foot and begin to hop and rock, tapping my heel as I manoeuvre half behind the door, half out of sight. I'm singing 'Twine Twiddle Twine'.
Video of Twine, Twiddle, Twine at Twine, Twiddle, Twine video on Youtube
Spik or Spec:
I am behind a translucent curtain beyond the entrance way of my studio, the main door is open to the corridor where the audience are, outside the studio. I emerge from the curtain and walk to the doorway. I bob down in the doorway and let my hair cover my face, and blow through the curtain of hair and poke my finger through to make a hook which I catch with my other finger. I stand up, bent over and begin to twine my hair through my toes, until it is stuck fast. I then manoeuvre my body onto the ground, retaining the hair hooked onto my foot. I rock and turn until I am on my back. I lift my legs in the air. with difficulty. I take cotton string from my trousers and loop and throw it to catch onto my toe, and around my hair-rope. I wind and bind my legs until the thread runs smoothly between my toes and I can hold the end of the string and manoeuvre my legs. I'm singing 'Spik or Spek, and the hook comes down'. I rock my torso until I am able to get my legs on the floor still caught in the string, and having flipped over I am able to drag my leg behind me as I crawl-shuffle back towards the translucent curtain and through it out of sight.
