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Cosey Fanni Tutti Reflects on Art, Commodification, and the Legacy of Transgression
Cosey Fanni Tutti, A Pioneering Figure In Avant-Garde Art And Music, Shares Her Perspectives On The Evolution Of Art, The Impact Of Her Past Work, And The Current State Of Creative Expression. From Her Groundbreaking Projects With Coum transmissions To Her Influential music With Throbbing Gristle and Chris & Cosey,Tutti’s Career Has Been Marked By A Relentless pursuit Of Artistic Freedom And A Willingness To Challenge Societal Norms.
The Commodification Of art
Tutti Expresses Concern Over The Increasing Commodification Of Art. She Believes That Today’s Economic Climate Forces Artists To Prioritize Commercial Viability Over self-Expression. “I think About Art being About Self-Expression Before Thinking: Can I Sell It?” She Laments, Highlighting A Shift From The Unfettered Creativity Of The 1970S.
She Praises Acts Like Kneecap For Their Uncompromising Honesty And The Power That Comes From True Artistic Motivation. According To A 2024 arts council England Report, Autonomous Artists Struggle More Than Ever To Gain Funding Without Adapting To Market Demands.
The Nature Of Transgression
While Known For Her Transgressive Art, Tutti Clarifies That It Was Never About Shock Value For Its Own Sake. “Everything I Do Is Just About Following My Own Intuition And My Own Interests,” She Explains. The Goal Was Always To Open Up Discussion, Not To Shut It Down, Which Distinguishes Her Work From More Cynical Attempts At Provocation.
She Contrasts Her Approach With That Of Kanye west,Whose Work She Deems “Dangerous And Cruel,” As It Stifles Dialogue Rather Than Encouraging It.
The Enduring Influence Of Heartbeat
Looking Back On Heartbeat, The Debut Album By Chris & Cosey, Tutti Speaks Of It With Special Affection.Recorded During A Pivotal Time, As She Was Ending Her tenure With throbbing Gristle And Beginning A new Chapter Both Professionally And Personally (She Was Pregnant At the Time), The Album Symbolized New Beginnings.
released In 1981, Heartbeat’s Blend Of Industrial Sounds And Electronic Rhythms Proved Highly Influential, Foreshadowing Many Trends In Emerging Music. Music Critic Simon Reynolds Noted In 2023 That Heartbeat “Remains A Touchstone For Electronic Musicians Seeking To Blend Innovation With Emotional Depth”.
Life In Norfolk
Tutti Finds Solace and Inspiration In the Quietude Of Norfolk, Where She Lives. The Vast Skies and peaceful Environment Provide A Counterpoint To The Intensity Of Her Artistic Pursuits. She Enjoys The Simple Pleasures Of Village Life, Such As Visiting The Beach And Swimming.
The Serenity Of Her Surroundings Fuels Her Creativity. According To The Norfolk Coast Partnership, The Region Has Seen A 15% Increase In Artists Relocating There In The Past Five Years, Seeking Inspiration From Its Natural Beauty.
Sexuality And Aging
Addressing The Topic Of Sexuality, Tutti Acknowledges That Physical Limitations May Arise with Age. However, She Emphasizes The Importance of Inventiveness And adaptability In Maintaining An Active Sex Life. She notes that interest in sex is naturally “up-and-down anyway, whether to do with age or not.”
Affections for Cats
Tutti Shares Her Affection For Cats, particularly Her Current Cat, Spook, Who Was Rescued And nursed Back To Health. Spook’s Affectionate Nature Stands In Contrast To Her Previous Cat, Dexter, Who Had A More Troubled Past. She Now Adopts Cats From Cat Sanctuaries.
Reflecting On Coum Transmissions
Reflecting On The Outrage Generated By Coum Transmissions’ Exhibition At The Ica In 1976, Tutti Recalls The Personal Toll It Took. While The Male Members Of The Group Largely Escaped Scrutiny,She Faced Disownment From Her Parents. This Experience taught Her Resilience And The Importance Of Moving Forward Despite adversity.
“I Was The One Judged, Not Them,” She States, highlighting The Gendered Double Standards She Encountered.
Misunderstanding And Persistence
tutti Believes That Her Work Has Often Been Misunderstood, Particularly Her Early Work With Adult Magazines. Critics Were Rapid To Judge Without Attempting To Understand The Ideas Behind It. Despite This, She Remains Committed To Making Her Presence Felt And Her Voice Heard.
“Things Haven’t Moved Forward so Much,” She Observes, Underscoring The Enduring Relevance Of Her Challenges To societal Norms. She was touched to see hundreds audition to play her in a film about her life.
Songs Of The Striptease
Tutti Shares Some Of The Songs She Used To Dance to During Her Time as A Stripper, Including Candi Staton’s Nights On Broadway And Patti Smith’s Becuase The Night.she Also Tailored Her Performances To her Audience, Playing Hard Workin’ Man For The Dagenham Ford Workers And Option Tv’s Love Lies Limp As An Ironic Nod.
She recalls forgetting to take her top off when enjoying Abba’s “Dancing Queen”, a song Chris bought for her.
Regrets About Raving
Despite her Influence On Techno Music, Tutti Regrets Never Having Gone Raving. Health Issues Prevented Her From Participating In The Rave Scene, But She Expresses A Sense Of Longing And Curiosity.
Gardening Joys
recalling Her Childhood reluctance Towards Gardening, Tutti Now Finds Great Pleasure In It. She Enjoys Growing Asparagus, Strawberries,
