Chains dance:
Performing Gender

Dancers Katherine Vaughn and Matthew Aldini activated the interactive exhibition Hi, how are you Gonzo? by Abraham Cruzvillegas at The Contemporary Austin on May 14, 2019.

Abraham Cruzvillegas embraces the concept of autoconstrucción—loosely defined as “self-constructing”—in a vibrant artistic practice imbued with a sense of constant becoming and a curiosity to learn and share information.

Responding to Cruzvillegas’s sculptures made from recycled everyday materials, the performance duo Matthew Aldini and Katherine Vaughn reflected on the themes of gender fluidity/rigidity and how society attempts to shape identity. Incorporating a portable dancing pole, sound components, and costuming, the dancers mirrored one another’s bodies and movements throughout the exhibition. Tapping into the percussive potential of the sculptures and the sculptural forms made by their dancing bodies, they hoped to activate the exhibition and elevate pole dance to highlight its expressive qualities.