Dates:                                     5th November – 27th November 2011

Times:                                     Fri – Sun 12pm – 5pm & by appointment

SLAM last Fridays:               Friday 25th November 6pm till late
Monseuir Poo-Pourri Performance from 7pm

Coleman Project Space is pleased to announce a new commission by Jordan McKenzie

Inner-city life provides the backdrop to and the impetus for Jordan McKenzie’s performance-led practice. The London-based artist’s interest in urbanism is informed by Situationist methods of investigating marginal territories, such as the détournement (that municipal planning and other political strategies create). Through research projects, objects and performances (most recently as the charmingly delusional flâneur, Monsieur Poo-Pourri), McKenzie explores notions of ‘local’ and ‘site’ in today’s global (art) context; specifically, the social responsibility of the maker, whether permanent member of a community or temporary (biennial) correspondent.

Like many London artists, McKenzie lives and works in the east end. And while his sartorially savvy, formally conducted tours of Bethnal Green (and his own life) may recall Gilbert and George’s relationship with a rapidly changing Brick Lane of the 1970s, the latent radicality of his journeys into the area also bring to mind the locally engaged practices of the Freee Collective and Hackney resident Laura Oldfield Ford.

For his first solo show at Coleman Project Space, McKenzie will create a sculptural installation for the main gallery. The shed space in the garden behind, meanwhile will become an archival room/picture house devoted to the travel ‘artefacts’ and carefully choreographed exploits of his main performance protagonist, Monsieur Poo-Pourri. The Estate home of this dandy (with a penchant for the surreal) is owned by Tower Hamlets. McKenzie’s absurd re-contextualisation of a class stereotype engages one with the very real problems and triumphs of a London community in Big-Society Britain.

Monsieur Poo-Pourri will be performing at the preview evening 6.30-7.30pm

Jordan McKenzie is an established performance artist who has worked nationally and internationally as well as exhibiting in group shows, most recently at Arnolfini Bristol and The Courtauld Institute London. He is currently developing LUPA: Lock Up Performance Art, a series of events currently taking place out of a lockup in Bethnal Green.

Press images 07930377734                                                                                      Supported by Reflecto-Lite