Chester Tenneson, Dance with me, don’t dance with me, 2022

Chester Tenneson’s work explores the absurdity within the norms of institutional design and authority, examining the idiosyncratic nature of commonplace objects and language. His position as a transgender man frequently informs the work – reflecting his experience as an outsider from many everyday norms and language, which have a cisgender base. His artworks question the absurdity of these everyday norms, playing with gendered gestures and objects, as well as more general rules and instructions which command our everyday experience and public placing.

Chester’s current text-based works reference the language of social media advertising posts directed at him, the algorithms of which have changed as he has moved through his transition. The works are drawn from written documents Chester makes of Instagram image descriptions and captions. Dance with me, don’t dance with me references one of many overly staged men’s fashion adverts which Chester receives on Instagram, inviting the audience to stage and record their own stances, posting back onto social media.

Chester took part in the PIVOT programme (2020-2022): a scheme delivered in partnership by Castlefield Gallery and the Bluecoat, Liverpool which includes bespoke mentoring and skills development for mid-career artists.