What are you looking at?

I can always find someone
to say they sympathize
If I wear my heart out on my sleeve
But I don’t want some pretty face
To tell me pretty lies
All I want is someone to believe
Honesty is hardly ever heard
And mostly what I need from you.
(song lyrics by Billy Joel)

Sealed in a two way mirrored box, 5 revellers loose themselves in reckless abandon. Amusing and boring themselves with food, drinks, records, slide shows, porn, video and party games, the apparent chaos occasionally freezes into the stillness of a photograph.

On the outside audiences are able to scrutinise the smallest of details and expressions, each action a miniature drama. It’s hard to tell what’s planned and what isn’t, whats real and what’s performed, if they’re really drunk or just acting it. Periodically kareoke is performed, but never to completion. A sign illuminates with the words “What Are You Looking At?”

Where: A room made of two-way mirrored perspex. Audience (outside) can see in; performers (inside) only see their own reflections

Who: A gang of Goths or Ravers setting up a fondue; American teenagers dressed up for the prom, off their faces on something illegal; the local tennis club having a right knees-up; a bunch of black polo-necked intellectuals singing along to Britney; a group of performers working out what to do next

What: 1 record player; a huge stack of records (anything and everything from Elton John to Public Enemy to Black Sabbath to Sugababes); an unhealthy quantity of booze (lager, wine, gin, absinth, you name it…); heartfelt singing; party games (twister, charades, boules, strip poker); 2 mics, 1 effects box set to “Reverb: large cathedral”; 18 pulsing light bulbs; 1 Mobile phone; 1 TV; videos for a night in with the boys (Predator 2, Lethal Weapon 3, Asian Babes 4); magazines for a night in with the girls (Take A Break, Hello, Gala); 1 illuminated “What Are You Looking At?” sign; a comfy rug; living room or garden furniture; various props and nicknacks (assorted tennis rackets, plastic flowers, party poppers, filthy ashtrays, bowls of peanuts, disposable cameras, Christmas decorations, cakes, plates of cheese, pens, beer-stained cushions, broken glasses); stupid dance routines, a séance, a holiday slide show; someone asleep behind the sofa

How long: 4-6 hours.

 

There is also a book about us with the same name available here.