Genesis P-Orridge, a groundbreaking performance artist and co-founder of Throbbing Gristle, discusses their innovative 'cut-up technique' and transformative identity exploration through extreme body modification with director David Charles Rodrigues. They delve into the impact of 1970s counterculture and the Temple of Psychic Youth, a radical musical project focused on empowerment. The conversation addresses themes of grief, love, and the poignant final days of Genesis, revealing a deeply personal journey intertwined with creativity and societal challenges.
Genesis P-Orridge's life exemplifies the intersection of profound artistic expression and personal struggles, showcasing the transformative power of embracing fearlessness in art.
Throbbing Gristle significantly challenged musical norms and reshaped artistic boundaries by addressing working-class struggles through their radical industrial sound and shocking imagery.
The Pandrogyny Project embodies Genesis P-Orridge's radical exploration of identity, merging life and art while challenging societal notions of gender and relationships through body modification.
Deep dives
The Concept of Magic and Artistic Risk
Magic is presented as a profound concept intertwined with artistic expression, suggesting that every artist must risk everything to reveal the essence of life. The discussion emphasizes that embracing fearlessness can lead to a transformative experience, where self-destructive tendencies are diminished. The notion of the body as a fragile vessel and the earth as a recorder of experiences underlines the significance of living authentically. This framework sets the stage for understanding the life and philosophy of Genesis P. Orridge, who exemplified this artistic risk through their boundary-pushing work.
Genesis P. Orridge: Life and Identity
Genesis P. Orridge, born Neil Andrew Megson, led a multifaceted life shaped by personal struggles and a quest for identity. Their experiences with severe asthma and a near-death incident at age eleven ignited an early awareness of life's fragility and the potential of self-expression through art. Genesis's engagement with countercultural literature and their early involvement in radical performance art communities laid the groundwork for a career defined by transgressive art and music. A series of transformative relationships, especially with their partners Lady J and Cozy, deeply enriched their explorations of identity and artistic expression.
Cultural Impact and the Birth of Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle emerged as a pivotal force in the music scene, challenging norms and redefining the boundaries of artistic expression. The band's formation was influenced by earlier performance art projects and the desire to reach a broader audience beyond traditional art spaces. Their sound, characterized by industrial themes and shocking imagery, sought to reflect and express the struggles of the working class, resonating profoundly with youth subcultures. This radical approach to music and performance art contributed significantly to shaping the punk and industrial music landscapes.
Psychic TV and the Temple of Psychic Youth
Genesis P. Orridge's subsequent project, Psychic TV, expanded the boundaries of performance art into a mixed media experience, blending music, visuals, and experimental narratives. The formation of the Temple of Psychic Youth served as a commentary on cult culture, employing elements of parody while promoting self-growth and awareness among followers. This innovative fan engagement differentiated Psychic TV from traditional music acts, creating a community around transformative artistic experiences. Despite its intentions, the group's provocative nature drew media scrutiny and allegations, influencing public perception and funding for their projects.
Legacy and the Pandrogyny Project
The creation of the Pandrogyny Project marked a significant culmination in Genesis P. Orridge's exploration of identity and body modification, merging their life and art into one. This project aimed to manifest a new form of existence by physically altering their bodies with Lady J to achieve a combined identity. Such radical self-exploration highlighted themes of love, connection, and the fluidity of identity, challenging societal norms surrounding gender and relationships. Following Lady J's passing, Genesis continued to navigate the aftermath of loss while maintaining a dynamic relationship with their art, promoting the idea of embracing one's many selves.
Genesis P-Orridge was a performance artist, neo Pagan, Industrial music innovator, the co-founder of COUM, Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV and an arch provocateur. He was variously described as a wrecker of civilisation, transgressive and blasphemous, accused of being a Satanist and of sexually abusing his children (a lie - in fact he was a loving father and grandfather), and claimed to be a threat to society. He could be both very alarming and very kind.
In later life Genesis became infamous with attempts to unite as a “pandrogyne”, a single entity, with partner Lady Jaye through the use of extreme surgical body modification intended to make them physically resemble one another
Filmaker David Charles Rodrigues, director of S/HE IS STILL HERE an extraordinary, moving film based around interviews made in the last months of Genesis's life, came to the Bureau to talk about the Cut Up technique, William Burroughs, Bryon Gysin, The Exploding Galaxy, industrial music, the Satanic Panic and much more in the life and death of a deeply countercultural artist.
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