Filmmaker Wu Tsang’s latest exhibit at the Clifton Benevento gallery features three of Tsang’s pieces across three platforms: video, text and sculpture. Tsang’s art places a spotlight on the queer and transgender community. Her artistic focus was largely inspired by the Silver Platter in Los Angeles, which has operated as a gay bar since 1963 and been a historical hot-spot for gay Latinos — and more recently — transgender people in the LA area.

At the Clifton Benevento gallery, two videos make up the piece “Miss Communication and Mr:Re” (2014). One screen plays a video which features Tsang’s face while the other shows Fred Moten, a poet and critical theorist with whom Tsang collaborated. The piece focuses mainly on the individual faces, which stare intently at the camera and display expressions ranging from from indifferent to tearful. Playing with the videos are separate recordings of Tsang and Moten speaking. At some point in the piece, they each put on makeup as Moten repeats the word “drag.” It’s difficult to discern when the piece begins and ends and how far each artist is into their monologue. Their speeches are stream-of-consciousness, intimate ramblings, and at first seem aimless until you discover that they are actually voicemails each artist left for the other. The confusion the audience members feel as they try to listen to two simultaneous monologues, and to find a connection between the visuals and the words, drives home the concept of miscommunication.

Across the room is a monitor, which displays subtitled poetic phrases like “I feel powerless” (Tsang) and “It’s sad to make no sense” (Moten). This provides some clarity to the piece “Miss Communication and Mr:Re” (2014), but the viewer is still challenged with the task of reading two scripts simultaneously and trying to detach one from the other. Through the use of video, sound and written word, Tsang dissected and separated the components of the monologues and purposely made it hard for the audience to understand, emulating an authentic case of miscommunication.

For a short time, this monitor also plays a video which shows Moten draped in fabric, spinning around in slow-motion with arms outstretched and palms raised. In the background plays an acappella rendition of “Girl Talk” by Betty Carter. This video, fittingly entitled “Girl Talk” (2015), is sentimental and light, and intends to show Moten in the role of a drag queen. In the adjacent corner, two humanoid sculptures are draped from head to toe in dozens of layers of thin fabric. The sculptures contrast the two other dynamic pieces, as they are still and mysterious, as if they were silently conspiring with each other.

Wu Tsang is a diverse and revealing artist, exposing herself through meaningful monologues, too-close-for-comfort video installations and obscure sculptures. Her work is on display at Clifton Benevento Gallery until Oct. 31. Admission is free.

Email Katrina Wilson at [email protected].