Thursday's Bitch Slap artist is Moscow-born Xenia Benivolski. A true artist of the world, Xenia studied her craft in Israel, Toronto, and Italy before founding the White House Studio Cooperative in 2008 - perhaps you've attended one of their legendary parties? Here Xenia explains her take on the show and why she loves doing laundry. Come to the Bitch Slap opening reception to check out her art in person on Friday, November 19 at the Thrush Holmes Empire (1093 Queen Street West).
What does the term BITCH SLAP mean to you?I don't know! I just googled it and urban dictionary says "suggests the slap was met with little resistance and much whining" so maybe there is some feminism in that context, I'm just going to assume there is. I wish it was called "Beach Slap."
What art will you showcasing at the show?I will be showing a tape installation inspired by Art Basel called "Miami Vice." Its made out of the Miami Vice soundtrack tape, and some more tape.
What interests you most in life?I really like thinking about parallel situations and metaphors come to life, lately I have been really into waiting: waiting for laundry or waiting in a waiting room, I feel like this is the only time you could really relax, you know? Cause you're doing nothing but you're still doing something, so you don't have to feel guilty about wasting your time, you're devoid of responsibility. This never happens in real life! I have made some of the most important decisions ever while waiting for something. Waiting rooms are introspective thinking rooms. Other things I think about are fashion, nature, sentimental feelings, culture, feminism.
I also think about conditioning, the other day I found a two dollar coin on the street and I have become obsessed with looking at that spot every day when I pass by, because for some reason your animal brain thinks this is a good spot for money to randomly appear at so now I just obsessively look at it. So I start thinking about how it would be a really good $2 advertising strategy, leave a toonie somewhere and someone picks it up and the next day bam slap an ad over there and the person will come looking at it and see the ad? will this work in real life? so $2 is the price of having someone look at something. Or maybe just have an ad on the side of the road that's a replica of the road and it looks like there's a toonie of there and when the person bends over to get it its just a print and it says "Buy Pepsi" or something, will this work? have an ad in the gutter and when someone fall into it, "buy Pepsi". Or maybe if your roommate keeps forgetting the garbage schedule just tape a toonie to it and see what happens.
What oddities do you cherish?I cherish all oddities. I can't really think of one right now. I like it when someone's phone calls you by accident and you hear them walking around about their day and stuff inside from their butt pocket, I can listen to this forever! like a fly on the wall, right? like a fly in your pants! eww.
Do you remember a perfect day? What did it look like?This is a concept I have been obsessing over since I was a kid, to have the most perfect day and usually something in the end ruins it. But lately I learned to accept the bad part as part of the perfect day. Isn't perfect balanced? I have an equal opportunity attitude towards days. Days are generally important. I know that if I sleep through one I really regret the loss of it. Yesterday was pretty perfect, it involved laundry, back pocket phone calls, $2...
What do you love most about being a woman?Everything, but the best part are woman friendships they are magical and precious and I value them the most. I know I don't want to get all travelling pants on this but it really is so special and genuine! I know guys have their own version of that and its just as good I'm sure, or not...whatever.
If you were a song on our stereo, what would be playing?I don't know, but my cats have been losing it to an instrumental track called After the Dance by Marvin Gaye, you should probably listen to it too! The saxophone is like Meeeeeoooowwwwwwwwwowwwowowwwmow.
BITCH SLAP WILL BE like a long walk on the beach with an old lover when you realize you'll always be in love but never be together. Ooooooh!
