Dancing Queen Ed. 1 of 50

Here she is: the greatest Tayū who ever lived. Putting on a private show in this secluded wing of the Alhambra. Her first was for el rey y la reina. Now she dances on the spot for a motley crew of gamblers and aristocrats. Servants and black sheep who've heard her myth and come to see for themselves... the Dancing Queen you can't knock down. Found in every palace on this tour, they hang round 'til dawn breaks — scattering to their quarters before anyone catches a glance.

And she'd let her legend run wild for years now, because it kept being proved to be true. She didn't know if she was in control of it. She didn't want to. All she knew was she drew larger and larger crowds to every bash. Where they'd try and topple her over in back rooms and hideaways. Throwing everything from oranges to cod while she fish fingered their gaze upon her bare flesh poking out beneath the silks. Knowing no matter what mayhem they hurled, she'd grab it like every other plate, bowl and teapot she's caught in Kyoto. With aplomb, midair, a ring cycle on spin cycle, never stopping, not for anyone... and certainly not for this silly lot who thought they'd knock her off her spot. With what? This fish? They wish.

From Buenos Aires to Ceylon they'd tried to take her on, and every time they left a little lighter as she collected coins from one after another. A dangerous bet she couldn't seem to refuse, because the Dancing Queen just won't lose...

Follow

ABOUT ME
Born in Sydney, I spent my childhood surrounded by artists, oddballs and academics. They taught me to question everything. Respectfully and without fear.

Twenty-two countries and four continents later, I can find home anywhere with WiFi and a hearty chunk of intrigue. It's because of them, and I'm forever grateful.

ABOUT MY ART
It's All Just A Little Bit Of History Remixing...

We imagine history into existence every day. Shaping the world around us as we go. And I remake histories with every piece. From a motley crew of tales tall and true. A melange of myths, signs and symbols. Every one ripe for my kitsch confections, which could all be legends one day...

Every piece I create is true. Sourced from truth and grounded by it. But never real. Reality's a fiction we're all subscribed to, which doesn't make it any less true. And that's the thing about the truth. Or the past. It moves in both directions. Myriad, in fact. Never sitting still or doing as it's told. Forever questioned, dissected, reframed and upended. Queered and inverted. Packaged and performed. Told, retold, adapted then sold. Evolving like everything else. Which is why I like to think my art exists outside of time. Reaching for infinity instead of reality. A kaleidoscope of mish-mashed truths that are only ever as surreal as we choose to make them...
‍
Toby Leon