Justene Williams: She Came Over Singing Like a Drainpipe Shaking Spoon Infused Mixers

Curated by Justin Paton for Christchurch Art Gallery's Outer Spaces programme, Justene Williams’ She Came Over Singing Like a Drainpipe Shaking Spoon Infused Mixers (2012) was presented as a night-time projection in an abandoned villa opposite the Gallery while its building remained closed following the devastating 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

Williams' employed outmoded video equipment and ephemeral materials including cardboard, paper and found objects to create this exuberant, vibrantly theatrical work that overwhelms the senses with shapes, patterns and colour. Filming herself and collaborators in handmade costumes that often merge with equally colourful abstract sets, Williams evokes the experimental spirit of early twentieth-century avant-garde movements including Dada, Futurism and Russian Constructivist stage design. Projected into the empty domestic interior and viewed from the street after dark, the work transformed the abandoned house into a surreal theatrical stage, amplifying the immersive energy of Williams' practice while responding to the altered urban landscape.