Late in 2015, artist Jessi Lewis stayed in Jambu – a small village about five hours drive from Surabaya in East Java. Surrounded by fields of chilli and corn, mornings where heralded by roosters, the buzz of motor cycles, the morning ritual of bathing with buckets of cold water and soap. His time there culminated in a performance as part of Tobong Arts Festival, however what emerged as most significant was the unexpected deeply impacting friendships and transforming cultural exchange. It was perhaps these interactions that have had the most profound impact on his practice as an artist weaving together physical performance with images, text and sound.
This is just one of the forever life changing experiences the young artist was lucky to experience, shortly after this he delved into the hustle and beautiful chaos that is Delhi, working with artists from the slums, to create collaborative work as part of Mangar Arts Festival. In India. he learned for the first time, how to “play with fire'”, introduced to the art by a master of this form at a party in celebration of Depavali- the festival of light. These experiences are unique,and offer a rich tapestry from which this show can be created, each memory a vibrant colour, each encounter a thread… we fold into… a performance which takes audiences on a journey through a surreal and visceral landscape….
Jessi Lewis creates solo performance works that are cross disciplinary and highly visceral. He has recently returned from Malaysia performing for the 3rd year as part of Melaka Art and Performance Festival. His work has been deeply influenced inspired by these experiences, most notably the people and cultures unique to these places. Ultimately his work seeks to inspire thoughts and conversations by challenging the status quo.
WE FOLD INTO
FRIDAY THE 18TH OF MARCH
3 SESSIONS @ 7.30PM, 8.30PM, 9.30PM THE NICHOLAS BUILDING MELBOURNE TICKETS $15
Further information: Jessi Lewis
Mobile: 0401 747 293
Email: a.black.alley@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/metamorphis
