We Will Slam You

With Our Wings

An operatic video 7 channel video installation for an army of 6 girls and one chieftan - 2022

Joanna Dudley's groundbreaking exhibition, "WE WILL SLAM YOU WITH OUR WINGS," delivers a seismic shift in the portrayal of historical narratives and the operatic tragedy genre. With its seven-screen video and operatic sound installation set within the gallery space, this work not only confronts the colonial legacy but does so through an unexpected and empowering lens — the youthful gaze and voices of girls aged between 8 and 16.

Each screen audaciously reinterprets a 19th-century imperialistic portrait, traditionally dominated by powerful white men, and instead features young girls who command the space with their regal presence and defiant stances. This substitution not only challenges the viewer's understanding of power and representation but also reframes the girls as the new leaders, warriors, and voices of authority.

The operatic element of the installation recasts the familiar fates of iconic, tragic heroines. Each girl reenacts a renowned operatic death aria for the dramatic soprano- those of Dido, Tosca, Madame Butterfly, Salome, Brünnhilde and Suor Angelica. Dudley and the performers, drawing from the depths of operatic history, transform these familiar stories of tragic deaths into narratives of triumph and defiance. This not only subverts the traditional expectations of the fate of the female in most dramatic narratives but also uses these powerful arias to ignite anthems of feminist resilience and uprising.

Dudley's role as a chieftain within the piece underscores the theme of empowerment, guiding these young girls to take ownership of their narratives and simultaneously confronting them with an adult force they have to rise against and overcome. Dudley’s absurd war speech features grabs from infamous declarations of war by the world’s male dictators and leaders- including Churchill, Goebbels and Mussolini, ensuring that these are also not left unscathed and adding yet another layer of confrontation and reclamation. The words of conquest and conflict juxtapose with the manifesto for gender equality and empowerment, emphasizing the girl’s dynamic repositioning as the heralds of change.

The work reverberates with the energy of intergenerational solidarity, linking the past, present, and future in a continuous dialogue of empowerment and reinterpretation.

"WE WILL SLAM YOU WITH OUR WINGS" is not merely an exhibition; it is a provocative call to rethink the stories we have been told and the figures we are shown. It invites viewers of all ages to witness a world where young girls are not only the subjects of visual culture but its creators, leaders, and future.

It has been shown at Berlin's Fotografiska Museum, Australia’s Illumination Festival, it took over Melbourne’s Federation Square on giant billboards for their 20th-anniversary celebrations coinciding with International Girl’s Day and with the Australian Centre for Moving Image and at the Victorian Symphonic Hall for the International Singapore Festival.

Interview Stories with Fotografiska, Berlin (2024)

Behind the Scenes

Joanna Dudey's war speech

"The declaration of war is the most horrendous form of masculine expression, so it made sense to work with them. I chose to use some of the most recognisable war speeches in history. The opera arias I use are German, English, and Italian, so I used the war declaration speeches of Goebbels, Churchill, and Mussolini. There is a common dramaturgy in their tonality and rhythm, no matter when they were written and in what language declared. It felt cartoon-like to embody them, however, as a language, it is still the norm when it comes to people in power and we rarely question it."

Interview with Raoul Keil with Schön! Magazine

WE WILL SLAM YOU WITH OUR WINGS: The Live Performance

Marking the grand opening of WE WILL SLAM YOU WITH OUR WINGS at Berlin's Fotografiska, Joanna Dudley curated an evocative site-specific performance. This presentation delved into the intricate layers of the work, blending theatricality with profound emotional resonance. This performance is designed to be versatile, capable of being staged at any host museum or venue, and seamlessly incorporating all kinds of local girl groups to forge a connection with each unique community.

Dudley was joined by the ethereal voices of the Bulgarian Girls Choir- Sharena Gayda Berlin, violinist Hsuan Huang, and the dynamic all-girls marching band BÄM! Drumline. Together, they transformed the museum with a symphony of singing, shouting, screeching, drumming, marching, and dancing.

The performance interweaves behind-the-scenes documentation and intimate interviews with the original cast members. These segments provide a candid glimpse into the minds of the girls and young women who brought this installation to life, sharing their personal reflections and the transformative impact of this collective endeavor.