Morley College Chelsea Presents: ‘INCARNATIONS’ Audiovisual Exhibition

Opening Evening including Photo & Song Book Launch: Thursday 12 September 6:00pm – 9:00pm with 

RAP Performance time: 7.30pm – 8.30pm

Chelsea Centre presents ‘INCARNATIONS’ – an audiovisual exhibition of photography, digital projections, music and prose by London photographer & educator Paulina Czyz and rapper Carl Guifo Guifo (AMP Medley). The artists explore how people see each other and how awareness of those perceptions may help us learn more about
ourselves. The artwork presents the viewer with a multi-sensory narrative experience using intertextual storytelling and unusual story structure, inspired by classic allegories such as Plato’s Cave, Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland.

This piece features 8 working artists based in the UK each working in different artistic disciplines. Paulina and Carl imagine them within the narrative as fantastical and archetypal characters, whom they call ‘Incarnations’. Some of the story’s characters include the godfather of UK Rap Rodney Panton (Rodney P) as ‘The Machine, Breakin’ and Lindy Hop dancer and London 2012 Olympics opening ceremony choreographer Sunanda Biswas (B-girl Sun Sun) as ‘The Phoenix’, make-up artist to Hollywood blockbusters such as ‘Napoleon’ & ‘Gladiator 2’ Juliana Ferreira as ‘The Krishna’ and last but not least the enigmatic figure of Banksy also swings by to have his picture taken as ‘The Joker’

Paulina Czyz commented: “This project is a tribute to the vast and diverse array of subcultures and artistic movements expressed within this dynamic city of London. Photographed between years 2017 – 2023, ‘Incarnations’ started as a documentary series but has since evolved into a portraiture studio-based project. I incorporated body painting and set design to add detail and individuality to each composition. Additionally, handmade costumes and props designed and created by myself played a role in elevating the narrative and thematic elements of my portraits. I completed a series of 8 “Incarnation” portraits using models from the art of emceeing (poetry & rap), technology (djing & photography), movement (dance & martial arts) and illustration (graffiti & body painting).”

AMP Medley commented: “I created songs to compliment the visuals that Paulina produced. The songs were inspired by the symbolism apparent to me inherent within the subjects’ depictions… for example, ‘The Phoenix’ and the theme of rebirth, or ‘The Machine’ and the philosophical questions new technologies present to us. The short story I developed, to connect the Incarnations together, utilises and subverts a concept known as the ‘Hero’s Journey’. Popularised by Joseph Campbell, he posits that every story follows certain conventions not by design but by necessity, an arc all protagonists must go through to complete a story.”To coincide with their exhibition Paulina & Carl will launch the ‘INCARNATIONS’ photo & song book at the opening evening. We shall conclude the evening with a RAP performance featuring a series of original songs inspired by each “Incarnation” & performed live by AMP Medley.

Exhibition Dates: Thursday 12 September – Saturday 21 September 2024

Public Hours: Monday – Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm