This is a mini story about Blue Rebel Brigade performing on South Portland suspension bridge closely related to a larger photo documentary I made during Blue Wave 2020 climate demonstration in Glasgow.
I have more images of the performers interacting with the protesters and leading the parade on Glasgow’s main shopping street up to Buchanan Steps. Here I wanted to fragment the arts and performance aspects of the show out of the larger narrative – the phenomenon of a peaceful occupation of prominent urban spaces and creative disruption of normal urban weekend lifestyles, as well as details of their attire and makeup.
The idea of a silent miming show advancing slowly through urban spaces in support of Extinction Rebellion protests derived from Red Rebel Brigade performances devised by Doug Francisco and Justine Squire from Bristol’s Invisible Circus for the Extinction Rebellion Spring uprising April 2019 in London. Red Rebels support and encourage similar performance protests around the world and even publish instructions how to create robes and headdresses. Red robes symbolised the colour of blood we share with all the species on Earth.
In contrast, Scotland’s Rebel Brigade wore blue in support of the climate protest against the rising seas, the threats of flooding, the polluting of the oceans and killing marine wildlife. Faces painted white, stark eye make up and flowing ribbons, their deep blue “antic” dresses drew attention of the Glaswegians to the actors’ slow and deliberate mournful movements and gestures.
South Portland suspension bridge episode of the Blue Rebels performance was elegantly beautiful and photogenic in its site-specific laconicity.
