WESTERN FRONT – Repression, the Sleeping Maiden

Description:

In Repression, the Sleeping Maiden, Judy Radul reimagines the tale of Sleeping Beauty. In this version, the sleeping maiden awakens to the unsettling realization that it was not only the evil Queen but also Prince Charming—played by Andrew Wilson—who put her to sleep.

Radul and Wilson performed live on a leather chaise, accompanied by prerecorded video, audio, and projected slides.

Video documentation is available upon request.

Seen in black and white, a performer with long black and white hair lies on a chaise lounge. Another performer, with short bleached hair, wears a pair of football shoulder pads and lifts his companion's leg onto his shoulders, as if to stretch her hamstrings.

Seen in black and white, two performers embrace each other on a chaise lounge. One performer has long black and white hair and wears a short skirt and a tank top. The other, who looks at their companion yearningly, sports bleached, short hair, tight shoulder pads and loose pants ending at knee level.

Seen in black and white, a performer sits on the headrest of a chaise longue. She sports long, skunk-striped hair, a black tank top and a short skirt. Another performer embraces her legs as he rests his head in her lap. He has short, spiky, bleached hair and wears football shoulder pads. They both stare at the audience off camera, with a spotlight illuminating them against the bare background.

Seen in black and white, Andrew Wilson straddles Judy Radul, who lies on her back on a chaise lounge.

Captions:

Judy Radul, Repression, the Sleeping Maiden, photo documentation, Mar 28, 1987. Photo by Reece Metcalfe.
Judy Radul, Repression, the Sleeping Maiden, photo documentation, Mar 28, 1987. Photo by Reece Metcalfe.
Judy Radul, Repression, the Sleeping Maiden, photo documentation, Mar 28, 1987. Photo by Reece Metcalfe.
Judy Radul, Repression, the Sleeping Maiden, photo documentation, Mar 28, 1987. Photo by Reece Metcalfe.

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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.