As a dancer, live painting is another kind of improvisational practice for me; another language or method of exploring the curiosities of the room; the people in it, the sounds, and my relationship to them. In truth, I sometimes get overwhelmed by sounds and people. Painting/drawing as performance allows me to find a calm space within that chaos.
I have performed at gallery exhibitions, poetry launches, art nightclub events, inside bedrooms, and surrounded by nature in public parks in Tokyo. Some of these performances were solo, others were with improvising musicians, and participation with the audience. Each environment influences the work made. Before beginning, I have some ideas about shape and color, but most of what is made is coming from the location I’m in / the people I’m surrounded by.
small room with people in it
acrylic, ink, oil pastels, oil, charcoal, and poems on wood
live painting from a year of forgetting the pines 6/23/23 performed/made at Gallery Paradiso
I have more questions about this process than I do answers, but I’ve come really enjoy falling into these question marks again and again with each performance.
For inquires and reservations, please contact me here: jeskalled@gmail.com
video taken by Maki
the title of everything
Acrylic, newspaper, & charcoal on wood
a live painting on 3/15/2023 performed/made at 1oak in Roppongi
untitled woman in a city
Oil, acrylic, ink, oil pastels, chalk on canvas
Live painting performance on 12/9/23 for Tokyo Poetry Journal Volume 14: Eros release
This painting was sold at a silent auction and given back to the artist — all proceeds for the silent auction & donations were sent to “Living Stipends for Palestine” from the NPO Mophradat.
photo by Andrew Bibee