WESTERN FRONT – Perfect Moments

Description:

Perfect Moments was a performance by the collaborative duo Marty St. James and Anne Wilson. Taking its title from a quote in Jean-Paul Sartre’s novel Nausea (1938), their performance explores the existential idea of time and the impossibility of a “perfect moment.”

Seen in black and white, two performers stand with a high desk between them. The performer on the right wears a black collared shirt and trousers with a long white tie, holding a glass towards the other performer on the left, who wears a black dress, as they sniff the glass.

Seen in black and white, a performer dressed in a black collared shirt and long white tie, leans over and sips on a cocktail glass that sits on a high white desk.

Seen in black and white, a performer dressed in a black dress holds an apple on top of a wine glass, which sits on a high desk. Behind, another performer watches thoughtfully with their hand against their mouth.

Seen in black and white, two performers lean towards each other. Both dressed in black, the performer behind leans forward, planting a kiss on the other performer’s cheek, as they lean back to them.

Seen in black and white, a performer stands, only their torso and stained mouth in view, as another performer leans over a bowl of fruit, devouring it. Both performers are dressed in black.

Seen in black and white, a performer dressed in black leans over a bowl of fruit, as they bite into the skin of a banana. A white sheet covers their front side.

Seen in black and white, a performer dressed in black holds a banana in their mouth as they lean upwards from a bowl of fruit. A white sheet attached to their face covers their front side.

Seen in black and white, a performer dressed in a black dress and fishnet stockings walks forward, as another performer clenches their legs from the floor.

Seen in black and white, a performer dressed in a black dress hangs onto a shelf as another performer, dressed in black, holds their legs down, lying on the floor.

Seen in black and white, a performer dressed in black stands while another performer, dressed in black, lies on their stomach between their legs, holding them down.

Seen in black and white, a performer wearing black stands, leaning over themselves, while holding another performer's fishnet stocking-clad legs on their shoulders. The other performer leans back, suspended in the air, along the performer’s back.

Seen in black and white, a performer dressed in black leans forward as they hold another performer, dressed in black and fishnet stockings, over their shoulders. The other performer leans back, suspended in the air, letting a ball of twine fall onto the ground from their hand.

Seen in black and white, a performer dressed in black hangs with their legs above their head, on another performer’s shoulders. Their expression is wide and neutral, as their arms drift to the floor.

Seen in black and white, a performer smiles, dressed in a black collared shirt and white long tie, as they hold another performer’s legs on their shoulders.

Seen in black and white, two performers stare at the camera. In the foreground, one performer sits in a thick white sweater and black stockings, and in the background, the other performer leans against a coffee table, dressed in a black collared shirt and trousers, and a long white tie.

Captions:

Marty St. James and Anne Wilson, Perfect Moments, photo documentation, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James performing Perfect Moments, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James and Anne Wilson, Perfect Moments, photo documentation, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James and Anne Wilson, Perfect Moments, photo documentation, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James and Anne Wilson, Perfect Moments, photo documentation, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James performing Perfect Moments, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James performing Perfect Moments, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James and Anne Wilson, Perfect Moments, photo documentation, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James and Anne Wilson, Perfect Moments, photo documentation, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James and Anne Wilson, Perfect Moments, photo documentation, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James and Anne Wilson, Perfect Moments, photo documentation, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James and Anne Wilson, Perfect Moments, photo documentation, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James and Anne Wilson, Perfect Moments, photo documentation, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James and Anne Wilson, Perfect Moments, photo documentation, Oct 28, 1982.
Marty St. James and Anne Wilson at Western Front, Oct 28, 1982.

Western Front is a non-profit artist-run centre in Vancouver.

We acknowledge the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations as traditional owners of the land upon which Western Front stands.