Live Review: Through fabric and fog, Exhibitionist's debuts video for 'Hands'

It’s always exciting to see the first music video of an artist; especially one who has named themselves EXHIBITIONIST. It’s a tall order to impose on yourself, almost goading yourself into proving it. Yet, following the release of her debut single ‘Hands’, Kirsty Tickle, the woman behind Exhibitionist, has delivered a refined and intimate visual to accompany her track. With the precise arrangement that made the track so enjoyable follows through, it’s no wonder that her track has already cracked 100k on Spotify and now doubt now has its sights on the big numbers of Youtube.

The video clip, directed by Josiah Eastwood focuses on intimate details rather than an ostentatious affair. It’s the handiwork of a small group of friends: Tickle and her housemate Julia created the costumes, Brianna Kell choreographed the routine and it was shot in a rehearsal space in Marrickville. The simple production shines through and continues the intimacy the song promotes. The music video focuses on fabric gliding over bodies as they jut, twist and warp themselves under blue, red and studio lights. The fabric, first, is rough and it is from that, that Exhibitionist and the other dances emerge – they uncover themselves, tearing through and exposing themselves in clothing that looks like nothing more than bandages.

The tension of the video is sensual rather than sexy. Though the clear silhouettes of bodies are often the focal point, it’s evoking something more intimate – sheets pulled off a body, unwrapped and exposed. It’s the final shot, a silk sheet pulled over a body as if by sheer will of itself that gives Exhibitionist an almost veiled-statue like feel. It's a beautiful, simple but effective visual. The entire video doesn’t necessarily celebrate the body, as it gives it no pedestal but honours every curve and edge with fabric to create something lush and creepy in the same stroke.

The video also has to be credited for amazing editing. Many shots obviously being reversed video however, rather being obvious edits, they seem like fluid movements, as if the dancers could wrap the fabric back around themselves while they contort. All together, it’s an elegant complement to the track – hopefully providing Exhibitionist’s ‘Hands’ to soar through the blogosphere and capture a larger crowd. Kirsty Tickle may be the Exhibitionist but she isn’t just showing off, she’s committed to the craft of it all. It’s hopefully the first of many strokes forward into an interesting and quite obviously, refined vision.

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WORDS BY LLOYD CRACKETT 

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