UGLY GIRL
_films – Living Art *
* Living Art is a common project of Steven Cohen and Elu Kieser which consists of a series of provocative public interventions in which they use their bodies (and sometimes those of others) to create a “living art” which mixes sculpture, dance and cross-dressing . These pieces include DOG, FAGGOT, JEW and UGLY GIRL.

Ugly girl developed out of Princess Menorah’s costumes. A component of Living art, it presents a critical insight into a marginal “type”. Its public interventions included going to buy a ticket for a rugby match at Loftus Versveld stadium in Pretoria, as well as attendance at the Durban July horse race. Ugly girl’s costume plays with drag.
UGLY GIRL RUGBY
MATCH TEST
Loftus Versveld stadium, Pretoria









Original format : color video / 4:3
Filmed by Amir Mizrach
Single Channel HD Video
20 juin 1998
2 min 48 sec









Original format : color video / 4:3
Filmed by Amir Mizrach
Single Channel HD Video
20 juin 1998
2 min 48 sec
UGLY GIRL FASHION
FASHION STAKES
GREYVILLE – DURBAN
At the Durban July, her ensemble is spattered with blood, which, Cohen commented, was “inspired by street violence”.









Original format : color video / 4:3
filmed by Innocent
Single Channel HD Video
4 juillet 1998
2 min 47 sec









Original format : color video / 4:3
filmed by Innocent
Single Channel HD Video
4 juillet 1998
2 min 47 sec
UGLY GIRL (ART GALLERY)
DURBAN ART GALLERY
In the gallery performance, blood issued from Ugly girl’s mouth and anus, and an image of a healthy, ejaculating penis, alongside an image of a little girl with the premature ageing disease progeria, putting on lipstick, was projected as a backdrop, challenging aesthetic values: “Most people would see the penis as ugly and the sick child as sweet,” said Cohen.






Original format : color video / 4:3
Filmed by Janine Tilley & Belinda Blignaut
Single Channel HD Video
juillet 1998
1 min 02 sec






Original format : color video / 4:3
Filmed by Janine Tilley & Belinda Blignaut
Single Channel HD Video
juillet 1998
1 min 02 sec
STEVEN COHEN COMPANY
24 rue Succursale | 33000 Bordeaux | France
Samuel Mateu
Administrateur de production | +33(0)6.27.72.32.88
production[@]steven-cohen.com