Solo Show
Rose Easton Gallery, London
2024
In WGW I examine the construction of white victimhood, in film, television and news media. A series of prints combine images of celebrities and popular leading ladies, as well as US celebrities playing UK royals – such as Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana, and Margot Robbie as Queen Elizabeth – with text taken from Urban Dictionary, a website describing the ontology of White Girl Wasted.
Screen-grabs of women stare starry-eyed, self-declared ambassadors of progress, while the text articulates a world of abuse, misogyny and racialized violence. The voices shift from someone who finds vindication, liberation and joy in their debasement to someone who is apathetic or awkwardly analytic. In pairing these disparate forms, I ask what it means to be a victim, who gets to be a victim, and how does the performance of victimhood solidify a history steeped in white supremacy and white tears, shared between colonial powers (UK/USA).
White suburban women voted Trump into office in 2016. With a similar premise looming, I ask with urgency, why are white women so eager to self-destruct? WGW Merch include shot glasses and bottles (tear collectors or lachrymatories) with custom printed decals. A large vinyl - depicting the conservative groups Moms for Liberty, United Daughters of the Confederacy and members of the royal family – serve as a back drop to a short PowerPoint video looping an exchange between The Queen and Hilary at a raging kegger. TEAR MY FEAR, a performance, will occur opening night.
