Twisted Spire at Tate Britain
At the start of September, BSS had the privilege of photographing a truly magical event at Tate Britain.
This wasn’t just any performance – it was a live RPG (role-playing game) brought to life inside one of London’s most iconic galleries.
Because, as curator, artist and game designer Wingshan Huntley/@wingshan.ee /@twisted.spire argues, “games belong in galleries”.
Siren’s Oath: Tides Turning, is a revenge-driven eco-fantasy RPG. Co-written by Twisted Spire’s founder Wingshan Huntley and Evie Moriarty/@moriartyminis, and illustrated by Kim Thompson/@kim_a_tron, the game features miniatures by Warp’s Alex Huntley/@a.j.r.huntley/@warpminiatures.
In a world on the brink of ecological collapse (much like our own), a council of sirens meets to debate destroying those who have ravaged their waters. Is it revenge? Is it justice? The decision is in your hands. Siren’s Oath mobilises the trope of the monstrous feminine to grant us an opportunity to indulge into femme rage, and our most delicious radicalist personas.
Dressed in a stunning mermaid tail by Shadia Houssein (@shewasnamedshadia), Huntley transported the audience into another world, first with a solo performance (a siren song) on the iconic steps, and later with a group live play of the game.
Performed masterfully by Wingshan Huntley, Ellie James Sharpe/@ifelldownagain, Rachel Honeyghan-Williams @sciwithrach Anjuli Smith/@geekgirlbookworm and Michelle Kelly @michellicopter, the live play was nestled between John Everett Millais’ Ophelia and Henry Wallis’ The Death of Chatterton, in the ‘Beauty as Protest’ room at Tate Britain.
And what better place could there be to think through the ways in which women are made monstruous, or in which being a monster can be a source of liberation.
For us at BSS, capturing these moments meant balancing the atmosphere of the gallery with the intensity of live roleplay. Every image needed to tell the story: the drama, the costumes, the performers, and the setting that tied it all together.
The two performances were part of Late at Tate Britain, a series of free after hours event produced by young people on the first Friday of the month with music, workshops, performances, food and drink, and talks.
Sirens’ Oath from @twisted.spire is coming to Gamefound and MyMiniFactory later this month. Be sure to follow their accounts for updates!
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