#shia conlon

[sinterhinde]

Glory on the artist: Shia Conlon, Helsinki

Writer and artist whose work has been centered around marginalized voices and growing up in the landscape of working-class Catholic Ireland. His current research is focused on non-linear time and how to use the power of archives, language, and memory as tools for queer representation. His work is rooted in collaboration and would not exist without the vulnerability and openness of the queer and trans community. (Conlon, 2022)

https://www.shiaconlon.com/

I recently stumbled upon Shia Conlon's work (through Almanac Press). I'm always excited by trans writers discussing time/death and both are themes in Conlon's writing. I won't say more now because I'm yet to read all of his available work.

Conlon's photography serves as a balm to the hypervigilance that can be inherent to trans people; his portraits let the audience in to a place very much inside time. Even with his figures directed towards the lens, the feeling of being privy to a secret intimacy is striking. I feel that the subjects are safe in Conlon's world they are welcoming the audience- with authority.

(Image from Against Domestication, Conlon's 2017-2022 project examining power structures impressed on the body)

#glory on the artist #shia conlon #contemporary photography #contemporary poetry #irish photography #irish artist #irish poetry #trans texts #trans photography #to read #trans essay #time essay #almanac press #trans art #trans poetry

[aestheticsgroup]

Initial Concept

In discussing ideas as to what we’d do, I had suggested that we might be able to make a video for the lofi, ironi-pop boyband I’m in, Pyjama Sundayz. Currently PJSD are working on releasing an album (The Clench), which would allow us to collaborate in recording and mixing a song and then create a video for the song. After discussing with the rest of the band, they were interested in working towards making a video and recording a song in the UTS Studio.

  Pyjama Sundayz:

https://www.facebook.com/pjsdz/ (Go ahead. Like it!)

Pyjama Sundayz are a lofi, ironi-pop boyband based in Sydney. Pyjama Sundayz have received most of their fanbase by bypassing the traditional way a band gains fans and rather than release good music, they have gained fans through humorous Facebook posts, mediocre but amusing live shows, relentless advertising (including a massive plug by actor Shia LaBeouf) and also by attracting some playtime on the FBI radio program Robbies Modern Life. Stylistically, Pyjama Sundayz are interested in the cheesier and more despicable aspects of pop music, satirically using tropes of pop music infused with a lofi sensibility to try to create a fun and humorous atmosphere. Their music features guitars, bass guitar, vocals and Yamaha keyboards (which also provide the cheesy drum tracks), while on stage they eccentrically act a fool in their pyjamas (as the name would suggest). Much like the music of Ariel Pink, Kirin J Callinan and Ween, Pyjama Sundayz uphold the maxim that just because it’s funny doesn’t mean it’s a joke.

  The Song:

‘Venice’ a lucidly, funky piano driven odyssey paddling through the dangerous back canals of Venice. Inspired by the game Sauerbraten: Cube 2, which features a map called Venice and also by the tea-bag style instant coffee of Robert Timms, which sports a man paddling a gondola on the packaging, the song is both enticing and intimidating. Yet still in its development phase, Pyjama Sundayz are keen to develop, record, mix and make a video for the song.

The Video:

In discussing ideas for the video, Pyjama Sundayz have showed interest in using green screen to shoot the video for Venice. In the video they would use the backdrop of the map of Venice from the game Sauerbraten Cube 2. The video would be chaotic with a lot of dramatic camera movements and transitions, matched with wacky performances from the band echoing the lyrics of the song (head chopped off by a gondola etc). The green screen should be done in a way that looks tacky and artificial yet humorous, using the technology as amateurly and eccentrically as possible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ9yBgTp9UQ&t=37s ← like that but in music video format. Narrative would need to be developed.

Dress would be similar style as to that shown bellow

 Sean Conlon