Kath Ashill
b. 1984, Cymoedd Abertawe
Lives and works in Caerdydd, Cymru
Kathryn Ashill, Dragged Up, 2021, Film still ft. Len Blanco and Aneurin Heaven in drag king make up tutorial
Kath Ashill’s work is rooted in live performance, video and installation drawing on lived experiences within a working-class identity. Theatre and the DIY aesthetic of amateur dramatics allow them to perform multiple roles, both performer and choreographer of their work.
The culture clash between my background and my artistic practice sits in the disjointed narratives within my work. I pursue the theatricality in the everyday whilst sharing fragments of autobiography, observations on people, history and site. The frequent use of drag in my work opens up a dialogue about the history of the drag king in contemporary performance, as well as facilitates the exploration of my gender identity. I have made work which focuses on Cliff Richard’s 1996 portrayal of Wuthering Heights’ ‘Heathcliff’; Butlins redcoats/ knobbly knees and performance art; the history of the Principal boy in Pantomime; psychics; Take a Break Magazine; medicinal leeches; regression and a cat who killed someone in a past life.
Ashill graduated with a BA Honours in Fine Art (Combined Media) from Swansea Metropolitan University (now University of Wales Trinity St Davids) 2007, and gained an MFA degree from Glasgow School of Art in 2015. Kathryn’s most recent solo exhibition ‘FOOLS GOLD’ is a film installation for the Glynn Vivian Gallery and as part of receiving the Sir Leslie Joseph Award in 2021. Alongside their practice. Kathryn is currently a practice based PHD candidate at the University of Manchester, where they’re exploring the potential of inter-species collaboration across the fields of contemporary performance art, animal therapy and biotherapies. Kath is currently one of eight artists on the Future Wales Fellowship 2022 with the Arts Council of Wales in partnership with Natural Resources Wales.
The artist was in the following exhibitions:
¿AreWeNotDrawnOnwardToNewEra?
Gallery:
Kathryn Ashill - Principal Boy
This artist is featured in:
It Was Never Going To Be Straightforward
Links :
www.kathrynashill.com
