As part of the thesis exhibition No Jokes Allowed, Ikechukwu Ufomadu, Alex Forrest, and Alex Tatarsky examine humorlessness and uncanny comedy as a tactic in conversation with artworks from the Marieluise Hessel Collection. The performances—which take place every other Saturday through April and May—allow each performer half an hour to respond to the displayed artworks, which similarly refuse the joke format.
Comedian Ikechukwu Ufomadu takes familiar communication and teases out its unease, combining everyday cadences with nonsensical language. His cheerful deadpan style prioritizes believability over joke-telling.
Stand-up Alex Forrest’s performance Star Wars constructs a character who insists on a worldview to deconstruct their sense of self. The performance includes interventions throughout the museum space.
In Spirit Channel Surfing, clown and artist Alex Tatarsky hosts a Q&A with the displayed artworks in an exploration of material, mime, mimesis, and objecthood.
All performances will take place in CCS Bard Galleries, Gallery 2.
Performance Schedule:
Saturday, April 1, 2023
2:00pm - Alex Forrest
2:30pm - Alex Tatarsky
3:00pm - Ikechukwu Ufomadu
Saturday, April 15, 2023
2:00pm - Ikechukwu Ufomadu
2:30pm - Alex Tatarsky
Saturday, April 29, 2023
2:00pm - Alex Tatarsky
2:30pm - Alex Forrest
Saturday, May 13, 2023
2:00pm - Alex Forrest
2:30pm - Ikechukwu Ufomadu