Dragging Down

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Drag is a performance tool that uses gender expression as the medium. 

A Drag Performer uses their life experiences or views to create a performance that can express a story, a feeling or an opinion. Drag frees us from how we are conditioned to think, feel and act by our cultures and pushes us to question and understand our roles in society. Whether the reflection staring back is favorable or not, is up to the viewer.

In my personal history I've moved around a lot so I had to start fresh many times, that fear and loneliness that comes only from being somewhere new is the main subject of this installation. In order to recreate that sensation, I am bringing you into the world of Alessa Noriega, my very own drag persona born in 2013. Mothered by horror movies, Punk Pop Culture and teenage angst, Alessa became an extension of my own personality which I was able to explore. Here I found the true darkness that lies underneath the wig. The solitude, rejection and anger of a misunderstood artist that fuels a performance, and what tints it black. As drag performers, we face a lot of dangers similar to those of our female counterparts, we face discrimination and persecution, even sexual and physical assault. The reason of these is irrelevant to my installation. These experiences fuel our most intimate performances and just like any other artist, pain and fear is source of inspiration and strength, bringing the audience to a place inside them where they too can be strong. In my opinion, drag is a form of worship more than a parody of women, yes, it can certainly be parodic but it is also meant to be beautiful, empowering, and captivating.

That feminine beauty, maybe androgynous fantasy, gives me confidence as a performer to deliver a titillating show. Staying true to the women or female figures who inspired my performance is my highest priority. Getting into Drag is a very complex process, we use corsets, padding, body shapers, etc. to achieve the perfect figure. We paint our faces, moving around lights and shades to create a feminine or fantastical facial structure. we put on the lashes, colored lenses, heels and wigs to complete the illusion. Its a body modification process that is different for each queen but torturous for all. Drag doesn't only portray female roles, drag can also be used to express male or mixed gendered personas, this is a testament to the versatility of the art style. 

Anything Goes.