Tom Chao in The Negative Energy Field

Two more chances remain to see the new version of Tom X. Chao's performance art show, THE NEGATIVE ENERGY FIELD, at HERE Independent Art Center in Soho, NYC.

It's all around you--can you feel it? Sit back and let The Negative Energy Field wash over you in giant waves. Tom X. Chao helps you articulate all the nagging feelings that skirt around the edges of the day. Minimal sculpture fuses with humorous monologues; plus there's an HTML tutorial, nuclear self-destruct, a catchy theme song, and more. The Village Voice called the NEF "a jaunty solo," but you could also say "jaundiced."


The conceptual performance portion of the show consists of Chao concealed beneath a large rectangle of black cloth, motionless but speaking to the audience using a microphone and amplifier. The monologues present a starkly-bleak world view, yet enlivened by hilarious non-sequiturs and satirical remarks. The second half of the show consists of monologues presented in a more traditional format, with Chao either standing or seated on stage. And then the mysterious Woman in a White Dress appears--what role will she play? Nurturing muse or avenging angel bent on extracting revenge on all evil men? It's all part of the whole gestalt of THE NEGATIVE ENERGY FIELD.



HERE presents the One and Only Series:

THE NEGATIVE ENERGY FIELD

Written and performed by Tom X. Chao

Featuring Jenny Flaherty


"A jaunty solo"--The Village Voice

"Tom X. Chao is one funny guy. Not to mention perverse. And twisted."--T. Coraghessan Boyle.


HERE ("Symphonie Fantastique")

February 4, 11, 18, 25, 1999 * Thursdays at 10:30 pm

145 6th Avenue, between Spring and Broome * C, E to Spring St.

(212) 647-0202 * http://www.here.org (hosted by Mindspring)

$12, $9 students * tickets: http://www.ticketweb.com


Contact:

Tom X. Chao

(212) 674-4623

txc@echonyc.com

http://www.echonyc.com/~txc/txc.html



ABOUT THE ARTIST

Tom X. Chao has presented his conceptual performance at a variety of NYC venues during the past three years, including Pink Inc., One Dream, The Knitting Factory, P.S.122, Theater For the New City, Chez LaRoe, and on WBAI-FM. As an actor, he appeared in Deb Margolin's "Critical Mass" at P.S.122. During the summer of 1998, Dixon Place presented a three-week run of The Negative Energy Field. He has also served as a announcer for a radio program on WEVD.


He holds a degree in Cinema Production from USC, where he also studied fiction with T. Coraghessan Boyle. He earned an interdisciplinary master's degree from NYU's Gallatin School, combining art, performance, and media studies. Performance artist Deb Margolin (of Split Britches) served on his thesis committee and helped him develop The Negative Energy Field.


He has been employed by, among others, The Journal of Polymer Science, The Los Angeles Reader, The Voyager Company and the alt.culture website at Time Warner's Pathfinder. Presently he works as an internet consultant for a major publishing house in Manhattan.