photo by Marien Wilkinson
VENGEANCE
(is a love language)
“VENGEANCE” (is a love language)” is a multimedia performance experience, exploring the erotic depths of vengeance as self-devotion.
Hyper fixation, and radical inaction. We all know what it’s like to to drown in the fantasy of anger. What does it take to resurface into reality, and reclaim our power as it’s rightfully ours?
VIALL was presented over two nights with different endings (LIFE//DEATH) at Grace Exhibition Space.
photo by Chris Denman
Intro: Nowhere Fast
Outside, in a strip mall in Lower East Side, Manhattan, lies a beautiful black woman on a chained mattress. Motivated by the eroticism of their fantasy, YAKIKAT drags the weight of the mattress and the model to the venue to begin the show.
After bringing the mattress into the space, YAKIKAT performs a movement piece with the mattress- dancing and wrestling with it in a cumbersome and frustrated energy. As they toss and turn, feling themselves with rumination, they terminate their movement by allowing the mattress to fall on them.
What follows is a projection defining VENGEANCE and its themes for the show.
photo by Chris Denman
photo by Marien Wilkinson
photo by Madison Poloski
I. What is “VENGEANCE”?
projected on the wall behind YAKIKAT is the following:
VENGEANCE (n.) punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense
LOVE LANGUAGE (n.): a person's characteristic means of showing love or care for another
RETRIBUTION (n.) - : the dispensing of punishment
I desire retribution for the honor that has been denied.
HONOR (n.):
a showing of merited respect (RECOGNITION);
a good name or public esteem (REPUTATION);
something that gives someone a sense of pride (PRIVILEGE);
uprightness of character or action (INTEGRITY)
Forms of Dishonorable Behavior:
Neglected RECOGNITION
Injured REPUTATION
Denied PRIVILEGE
Rejected INTEGRITY
If this sounds like you or anyone you know, understand that retribution will be exalted and balance will be restored.
[RESPECT THE BALANCE]
II. REVENERGY
After a compilation of dystopic commercials for the energy drinks “REVENERGY” and “Spite”, YAKIKAT appears dressed in dominatrix garb and begins pacing. Once they’re fueled, they run on the treadmill for a short period of time, realizing that the mania and fantasy that fueled them will not be enough for the long journey ahead.
screen grab from “SPITE” commercials by A. Kazal and Mirra Kardonne
photo by Chris Denman
We align technical insight with disciplined execution to provide measurable gains across operational, financial, and strategic domains.
photo by Marien Wilkinson
III.go home
After the mania wears off, YAKIKAT descends into the basement when the projection says, “go home.” Recreating their home- their walls are adorned with paintings and sculptures from YAKIKAT’s portfolios. The audience also finds a pole and a mattress and watch YAKIKAT return to their tank top and blue jeans uniform to execute Butoh-styled pole dancing.
They eventually float (along the floor) to the other end of the space, ending up at a TV screening, “NO SIGNAL”. When they arrive, there’s a heavy knock on the door, and YAKIKAT ascends up the staircase to return to the space.
photo by Marien Wilkinson
photo by Madison Poloski
photo by Marien Wilkinson
photo by Marien Wilkinson
FINALE:nature always wins
When YAKIKAT returns to the space, they find their shadow (performed by Christian Kenoly) waiting for them with a pole, mattress and motorcycle waiting for them. They come together to integrate radical expressions of anger, fear, frustration in conjunction with love, self-compassion, and personal integration.
photo by Chris Denman
photo by Madison Poloski
With pole dance and contact improvisation, YAKIKAT learns the value of loving themselves holistically- that the journey of vengeance is a journey toward self-actualization and personal fulfillment.
VENGEANCE (is a love language) was directed and produced by YAKIKAT, with support/collaboration from:
Christian Kenoly - producer, dancer
Mirra Kardonne - video director, screen writer
A. Kazal - Director of photography, videography
Tench C. - projection mapping, lighting
Shamar Watt - sound design
Kayla Thomas - performer