Image shows a film being projected onto, and filling, the back wall of a gallery. The film shows two figures walking away from the camera in a wood. Either side of the film are dark walls with a repeating reflective shape.

U & I

U & I is an immersive installation exploring the various ways I've rehearsed, adapted and changed the fabric of the world to provide an invisible support structure for myself and my children. I'd been thinking about the back of my head, working with the idea of my role as a mother being akin to a stunt performer's, and recalling daily walks following behind the heads of my identical twins as we looped circular routes through our local wood (themselves moving from adholescence into teenagers). The film follows myself and an actor re-enacting those walks as she wears my clothes and a wig immitating my own hair.

On the walls a repeating motif of my seat, made by drawing round myself sitting cross-legged on the floor, references playing with young children and paying close attention whilst the reflective surface indicates the location of the film to the viewer.

Originally commissioned by Eastside Projects for their EOP Members Show 2023, this work was then included and reimagined for Eye Witness, a solo show at Exeter Phoenix in 2024.

During the development of U & I a series of conversations with Jes Fernie resulted in her experimental text, ‘if I walk behind you’, which explores the relinquishing and reclaiming of voice through different modes of presentation. Jes Fernie has written the text in the first person, which Natasha takes back through an audio recording (presented at Eastside Projects), a film work (presented at Exeter Phoenix) and a live performance in front of the U & I film in Exeter Phoenix’s arthouse cinema for the closing events accompanying Eye Witness.

U & I at Eastside Projects, 2023

Audio description of U & I at Eastside Projects, 2023

Jes Fernie wrote if I walk behind you, to accompany U & I, which you can listen to here

Eastside Projects kindly hosted an online conversation:

Jes Fernie & Natasha MacVoy In-Conversation

Image shows a film being projected onto, and filling, the back wall of a gallery. The film shows a wig on a head block with a pin holding it in place in the centre of the forehead. Either side of the film are dark walls with a repeating reflective shape.

U & I, detail, mixed media installation, Exeter Pheonix, 2024

Photograph: Dom Moore

Image shows a dark green wall with several reflective seat shapes reflecting the film that’s playing next to them and mostly out of shot. There is a white webbed sculptural version of the seat in the centre of the wall and in the back corner looking at the film are two figures suggested by glass heads, on black stands, wearing hoods.

U & I, detail, mixed media installation, Eastside Projects, 2023

Photograph: Stuart Whipps

Image shows two figures suggested by glass heads, on black stands, wearing hoods, with a dark green wall behind. They are illuminated by light from a film playing in the space, which is reflected in the glass jug heads.

Photograph: Stuart Whipps

Image shows a ceramic shape mounted on a dark green wall with a dimpled surface.

Photograph: Stuart Whipps

Two films are playing side by side in a dark space. A large film fills the wall showing two figures walking away from the camera in a wood. To its left a monitor is suspended in front of fabric and on screen a pair of hands are knotting hair into a wig.

Mum! Mum!, video, 5 min, 2022; U & I, video projection, vinyl, ceramics, 2023

Photograph: Stuart Whipps

Image shows a film being projected onto, and filling, the back wall of a gallery. The film shows a wig in a bath being filmed from above so you can see the parting in the crown of the hair. Alongside is a dark green wall with several reflective seat shapes reflecting the film and a white sculptural version of the seat.

Photograph: Stuart Whipps

A dark green wall with several reflective seat shapes reflects the film being projected on the wall next to them.

Photograph: Stuart Whipps

Image shows a screenshot of a blue sky with light clouds. Turquoise writing is imposed over the top, which reads, if I walk behind you

if I walk behind you, 2024, film presentation shown at Exeter Phoenix

During the development of U & I a series of conversations with Jes Fernie resulted in her experimental text, ‘if I walk behind you’, which explores the relinquishing and reclaiming of voice through different modes of presentation. Jes Fernie has written the text in the first person, which Natasha takes back through an audio recording (presented at Eastside Projects), a film work (presented at Exeter Phoenix) and a live performance in front of the U & I film in Exeter Phoenix’s arthouse cinema for the closing events accompanying Eye Witness.