Artists Space

SCRAAATCH

Performance
November 18, 2022, 8pm

Artists Space is pleased to present a new performance and installation by SCRAAATCH, the artist duo of E. Jane and chukwumaa (who also record music individually as MHYSA and lawd knows, respectively). Their commission at Artists Space draws on the choreography of prefight scenes in a selection of reality television shows. Sourcing gestures, sculptural objects, and sound of all types from these tense moments, the artists will activate sonic sculptures across three nights of aleatory sound, movement, and interactive video. SCRAAATCH has also invited photographer Elle Pérez to take part as a third performer and collaborator.

The project will be on view as an immersive sensory multimedia installation from November 23 – December 3.

Additional performances:
Saturday, November 19, 8pm
Saturday, December 3, 2pm

A microphone and lights are set up in a field, with trees along the horizon line.
SCRAAATCH, Untitled July 4th Performance, 2022. Photo: Mo Costello. [A microphone and lights are set up in a field, with trees along the horizon line.]

Image of a dimly lit basement with various sculptures made of wood and fresnel lenses placed around the space. Contact microphones are attached to the fresnel lenses and audio wires wrap around the floor. Along the back wall a blue projected image of live CCTV footage of the basement is displayed.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Image of a dimly lit basement with various sculptures made of wood and fresnel lenses placed around the space. Contact microphones are attached to the fresnel lenses and audio wires wrap around the floor. Along the back wall a blue projected image of live CCTV footage of the basement is displayed.]
Image of a dimly lit basement, a figure holding a video camera with a rig on their shoulder takes footage of the back wall, which has blue and purple light projected onto it.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Image of a dimly lit basement, a figure holding a video camera with a rig on their shoulder takes footage of the back wall, which has blue and purple light projected onto it.]
Image of a dimly lit basement. Along the back wall, on the left, a shadow of a figure in profile is cast onto a blue and purple projected screen.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Image of a dimly lit basement. Along the back wall, on the left, a shadow of a figure in profile is cast onto a blue and purple projected screen.]
Image of a dimly lit basement. Along the back wall, on the right, a shadow of a figure in profile is cast onto a blue and purple projected screen.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Image of a dimly lit basement. Along the back wall, on the right, a shadow of a figure in profile is cast onto a blue and purple projected screen.]
Two figures dressed in blue morph suits walk around a basement space. One figure on the right stands behind a semi-circular rolling table made of wood and fresnel lenses. Along the back wall blue and purple live CCTV video footage is projected.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Two figures dressed in blue morph suits walk around a basement space. One figure on the right stands behind a semi-circular rolling table made of wood and fresnel lenses. Along the back wall blue and purple live CCTV video footage is projected.]
Two figures perform in a basement. On the left a figure with a video camera and shoulder rig takes footage of another figure on the right, dressed in a blue morph suit, and pushing a semicircular rolling table made of wood and fresnel lenses. Along the back wall blue and purple tinted live CCTV video footage is projected.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Two figures perform in a basement. On the left a figure with a video camera and shoulder rig takes footage of another figure on the right, dressed in a blue morph suit, and pushing a semicircular rolling table made of wood and fresnel lenses. Along the back wall blue and purple tinted live CCTV video footage is projected.]
Three figures perform in a basement. Two figures in blue morph suits act out a scene together. The figure on the right scratches a fresnel lens attached to a wooden rolling table while the left figure walks toward the table. A third figure takes video footage of the scene.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Three figures perform in a basement. Two figures in blue morph suits act out a scene together. The figure on the right scratches a fresnel lens attached to a wooden rolling table while the left figure walks toward the table. A third figure takes video footage of the scene.]
Three figures perform in a basement. On the left a figure in a blue morph suit wears a pair of wings made of fresnel lenses. On the right another figure in a blue morph suit stands behind a rolling table made of wood and fresnel lenses. Another figure to the far right takes video footage.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Three figures perform in a basement. On the left a figure in a blue morph suit wears a pair of wings made of fresnel lenses. On the right another figure in a blue morph suit stands behind a rolling table made of wood and fresnel lenses. Another figure to the far right takes video footage.]
Three figures perform in front of an audience. Two figures in blue morph suits face off with a wooden table between them, while a third figure takes video footage of the scene.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Three figures perform in front of an audience. Two figures in blue morph suits face off with a wooden table between them, while a third figure takes video footage of the scene.]
Audience members are seated along a back wall, with a figure in a blue morph suit seated on a rectangular wooden frame alongside them. Blue light is projected onto a screen in the background.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Audience members are seated along a back wall, with a figure in a blue morph suit seated on a rectangular wooden frame alongside them. Blue light is projected onto a screen in the background.]
Two figures in blue morph suits engage in an argument, standing on either side of a wooden table with a fresnel lens as the tabletop. A third figure to the right films their encounter, while audience members watch in the background.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Two figures in blue morph suits engage in an argument, standing on either side of a wooden table with a fresnel lens as the tabletop. A third figure to the right films their encounter, while audience members watch in the background.]
A figure in a blue morph suit leans over a wooden box placed on the floor, while another figure to the left films them. Blue light is projected onto the back wall to the right.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [A figure in a blue morph suit leans over a wooden box placed on the floor, while another figure to the left films them. Blue light is projected onto the back wall to the right.]
A figure in a blue morph suit kneels down on one knee, placing their hands on top of a table made of wood and fresnel lenses while audience members watch in the background.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [A figure in a blue morph suit kneels down on one knee, placing their hands on top of a table made of wood and fresnel lenses while audience members watch in the background.]
Two figures in blue morph suits face off, with one figure sitting down on a wooden box looking up at the other figure who stands above them wearing wings made of fresnel lenses. All the way on the right a figure takes video footage of the scene.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Two figures in blue morph suits face off, with one figure sitting down on a wooden box looking up at the other figure who stands above them wearing wings made of fresnel lenses. All the way on the right a figure takes video footage of the scene.]
A figure in a blue morph suit kneels down next to a wooden table and looks off to the right. Audience members sit along the floor in the background.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [A figure in a blue morph suit kneels down next to a wooden table and looks off to the right. Audience members sit along the floor in the background.]
A figure in a blue morph suit leans their arms on top of a rolling table made of wood and fresnel lenses, pushing it toward another figure that stands in front of them filming them. In the background a third figure in a blue morph suit sits and leans down on top of a rectangular wooden frame. Blue footage is projected onto the back wall.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [A figure in a blue morph suit leans their arms on top of a rolling table made of wood and fresnel lenses, pushing it toward another figure that stands in front of them filming them. In the background a third figure in a blue morph suit sits and leans down on top of a rectangular wooden frame. Blue footage is projected onto the back wall.]
A figure in a blue morph suit stands, their hands on their waist, and looks to the left. A figure behind them films them. Blue video footage is projected onto the back wall.
SCRAAATCH. Performance documentation, November 18, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [A figure in a blue morph suit stands, their hands on their waist, and looks to the left. A figure behind them films them. Blue video footage is projected onto the back wall.]

Image of a basement with various sculptures made of wood and fresnel lenses placed around the space. Contact microphones are attached to the fresnel lenses and audio wires wrap around the floor. Along the back wall a blue projected image of live CCTV footage of the basement is displayed.
SCRAAATCH. Installation documentation, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Image of a basement with various sculptures made of wood and fresnel lenses placed around the space. Contact microphones are attached to the fresnel lenses and audio wires wrap around the floor. Along the back wall a blue projected image of live CCTV footage of the basement is displayed.]
Image of a basement with a sculpture made of two fresnel lenses cut in the shape of wings hung on the back of a pillar to the left of the image. Along the back wall a blue projected image of live CCTV footage of the basement is displayed.
SCRAAATCH. Installation documentation, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Image of a basement with a sculpture made of two fresnel lenses cut in the shape of wings hung on the back of a pillar to the left of the image. Along the back wall a blue projected image of live CCTV footage of the basement is displayed.]
Image of a basement with a rectangular shaped sculpture made of a wooden frame with fresnel lenses placed along the top and sides. Along the back wall a blue projected image of live CCTV footage of the basement is displayed.
SCRAAATCH. Installation documentation, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Image of a basement with a rectangular shaped sculpture made of a wooden frame with fresnel lenses placed along the top and sides. Along the back wall a blue projected image of live CCTV footage of the basement is displayed.]
Image of a basement with a table made of wood and a fresnel lens tabletop on the right side of the space. Along the top of the image the basement windows are tinted blue.
SCRAAATCH. Installation documentation, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Image of a basement with a table made of wood and a fresnel lens tabletop on the right side of the space. Along the top of the image the basement windows are tinted blue.]
Image taken between two curtains of a TV affixed to a wall on the right, displaying blue-tinted video footage of the performance with a fresnel lens hanging in front of the TV display.
SCRAAATCH. Installation documentation, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Image taken between two curtains of a TV affixed to a wall on the right, displaying blue-tinted video footage of the performance with a fresnel lens hanging in front of the TV display.]
Image of a basement window that has been tinted with blue paint, streaming in blue light.
SCRAAATCH. Installation documentation, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Image of a basement window that has been tinted with blue paint, streaming in blue light.]
Image of a basement with two sculptures made of wood and fresnel lenses placed on either side of the image. Along the back wall a blue projected image of live CCTV footage of the basement is displayed.
SCRAAATCH. Installation documentation, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Image of a basement with two sculptures made of wood and fresnel lenses placed on either side of the image. Along the back wall a blue projected image of live CCTV footage of the basement is displayed.]
Image of a TV screen playing blue-tinted video footage of the performance with a fresnel lens placed in front of the screen, distorting the image.
SCRAAATCH. Installation documentation, 2022, Artists Space. Photo: Destiny Mata [Image of a TV screen playing blue-tinted video footage of the performance with a fresnel lens placed in front of the screen, distorting the image.]

Together, E. Jane and chukwumaa form the sound and performance-art duo SCRAAATCH. They create multimedia performances, experimental music, and hybrid DJ sets. Their work focuses on communication across the Black diaspora, generational trauma, social upheaval, and the social conditions of urban environments. They are interested in communication attempts, communication breakdowns, societal breakdowns, and how communication can be meditated on through performance. SCRAAATCH’s works employ a combined phenomenology of digital, visual, aural, and corporeal effects. Their performances typically unfold over durations that allow the viewer time to fully experience the feelings their sights, sounds, and gestures conjure.

Elle Pérez is an artist born and raised in the Bronx who lives in New York City. Their work considers the ways violence is attached to everyday life and pain as a catalyst for transformation. Their work is currently on view in the exhibition no existe un mundo poshuracán: Puerto Rican Art in the Wake of Hurricane Maria at the Whitney Museum, New York.

Artists Space Venue is generously supported by Stephen Cheng, Lonti Ebers, Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, Allan Schwartzman, and David Zwirner.

    Two figures perform in front of large projected images.
    SCRAAATCH, Tower of Babel, 2019, Les Urbaines. Photo: Mathilda Olmi [Two figures perform in front of large projected images.]