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Bedford Teasing Out Contingencies art shows 'there's no stiff upper lip'

Quilla Constance Quilla Constance, dressed in feathered costume, by a work of her art called Fire BoyQuilla Constance
Quilla Constance said capturing the small boys real expression, that was painted in her work Fire Boy was "priceless"

An art project that involved a thousand people shows "there's no such thing as the stiff upper lip of British Society".

Quilla Constance, who lives in Bromham, Bedfordshire, is presenting Teasing Out Contingencies, at The Higgins Bedford.

It features eight large-scale oil paintings created from a performance workshops at Tate Modern in 2019.

The artist, known as QC, said she was delighted to bring the show "to where I live" and making the art "accessible".

Quilla Constance Quilla Constance by a work of her art Barbados BonanzaQuilla Constance
QC, dressed in a costume she made, standing by her work Barbados Bonanza

In total 1,000 people posed for photos, including students from Bedford College, in a specially organised open studio performance workshop, where about 2,000 photographs were taken.

People who attended were asked to pose with items and dress as they wanted in her costumes. The images were then used as the inspiration for her exhibition, using interiors inspired by Buckingham Palace.

"Never underestimate what people are willing to be part of," said QC.

"From what I've seen, there's no such thing as the stiff upper lip of British society because some of the most so called conservative people were in these costumes, larking around in a way that surprised themselves."

Quilla Constance Two pieces of artwork by Quilla Constance on display at The Higgins, BedfordQuilla Constance
Two of the large-scale oil paintings, Fire Boy and Transcend, are currently on display at the Sir William Harpur Gallery within The Higgins Bedford

QC added: "This is my first figurative painted show and I'm delighted to come to Bedford and bring this back to where I live, it feels like coming home.

"People often ask artists 'what do you do all day' and finally I can, 'say this is what I do, this is what I've been working hard at'.

"They're not just pretty pictures, it's about rewriting the narrative, it's about involving people, it's about making art accessible and that's the most important thing about this show."

Quilla Constance Quilla Constance by a work of her art, Sista SignifierQuilla Constance
Sista Signifier is one of QC's favourite pieces which shows two women, who were photographed separately but placed together in a portrait
Quilla Constance Costumes made by Quilla ConstanceQuilla Constance
QC’s costume installation titled The Grenadiers can be seen across a whole wall at The Higgins

The artist, and lecturer, at University of Arts London, believes there is a cross over with performance art and comedy and has created a performance workshop with comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan, for the television series, Rob & Romesh Vs Art.

A symposium about the exhibition will take place at The Higgins on 15 November from 13:30 to 16:30 GMT.

Supported by Arts Council England, Tate Modern, Bedford Creative Arts, The Higgins Bedford and Bedford Borough Council, it runs until 7 January, 2024.

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