"A dissimulation of finches in collective bird song tweet requiem in d-minor, polyphonic tones carry on the wind. Warm rain falling. Steam. Lyrebirds mimic chainsaws while Bower birds collect and angle sinews of iridescent cabling building the form of an ancient child’s body. Sign a snake gets trapped in an endless loop of its own skin after shedding. Soft-bodied legless larva are downloaded, they slither beneath the old baby’s flesh. Leeches placed on the nervous system gently animate this lobotomized vessel. The Iris dilates red, timelines streaming abject horror punctuated by glistening moments of poetry. Its soft bony hands begin to scratch at the earth at the base of a tree, a pulsing heart is lifted from its base.”

Performed at the MCA exhibition New Romance: art and the posthuman, curated by Anna Davis & Houngcheol Choi 30 Jun 2016 to 04 Sep 2016.

Devisor & Performer: Justin Shoulder

Costume Design: Matthew Stegh & Justin Shoulder

Composer: Nick Wales

Lighting Design: Toby K

Dramaturgy: Victoria Hunt

Electronics: Nick Wishart

Co commissioned by Forward Assembly for SFW Hong Kong and MCA Sydney for New Romance

images: Alex Davies

phasmahammer.com/carrion-episodic-work