Galerie Camille is pleased to announce the opening of I Owe You Nothing, This Is For Me, the first solo exhibition from Detroit born, Brooklyn based Artist, Writer, Curator, and Dj Darryl DeAngelo Terrell (They/Them.) By way of an alter ego who goes by Dion, Terrell explores what it is to be fat, black, queer and femme. Terrell produces works by way of intimate and often private performances in front of the camera to engage in a vulnerable conversation around desire, sensuality, and sexuality while also thinking of ways to place bodies that are considered “othered” in the center. By way of Dion, Terrell challenges viewers to look, and feast upon the body to engage in conversations about Desire, what it is and what it looks like.
This is explored through photography, video, performance, text, and sound conjured through Dion in their exploration of wanting to be viewed as whole and worthy of existence. Pulling Influences from the black urban aesthetic i.e Wigs, long hair, makeup, luscious fur coats. braggadocious jewelry, peacock wicker chairs, the finest fabrics, and jewels, and other items that allude to black queer opulence.
This image contains the attitude of the entire exhibition; confident, beautiful, sexy. Terrell pulls no punches in describing a lifelong journey in authentic self-discovery. Freed from the confinement of society’s dictates, Terrell embraces their alter ego, Dion, who takes a well-earned, unapologetic, in-your-face stance.
This portrait occupies a space previously reserved for white, female nudes created by white, male painters and sculptors. Manet’s Olympia, although there was historical precedent for the pose, raised more than a few eyebrows due to the realistic depiction of a prostitute. Terrell takes the eyebrow to a new level. The gorgeous contrast of Dion’s skin against the pristine bedding is softened by gauzy draping making for a highly sensual scene.
The angle of this shot was necessary to avoid capturing the shooter leaving the messaging to the viewer. Terrell challenges the viewer to reflect on Dion’s self-observations as well as consider their own body image perceptions.
Plunging headlong into a more inclusive social landscape, the true diversity of humanity’s identity is emerging. After centuries of acquiescing to rigid roles and labels, images such as these can be quite shocking. As we begin to consistently view the multiplicity of humanness, we will become more comfortable expressing our genuine selves without fear of the current assortment of repercussions from physical assault to judgmental side-eye. Personally, I’m enjoying older women as fashion and industry icons. Life ain’t over at 50 anymore, thank god, because I’m miles from the rocking chair.
“Being a big bitch, in a world of small hoes, I exude an energy and identity that don’t completely fit into the Binary, I exist in a void. By way of an alter ego named Dion, I explore what it means to be desired, more than to just fit in, but to feel fucking included, to exist in a place where my body in all of its blackness, queerness, fatness and femme-ness is the norm.” –Dion
On view through February 18th at Galerie Camile 4130 Cass Ave Detroit
*images are mine
direct quote from gallery materials
Paid subscriber sneak peek micro artist talk with Rick Vian whose solo show opens this Friday at M Contemporary. Full written review will publish Thursday Feb 2nd for everyone.
SHOWS OPEN THIS WEEKEND