Meet Jadda Cat

Jadda Cat is One half of the most outrageous performance art team The Living Installation. The other half being Michael Alan who we had a chance to interview a few weeks back. As the living installation, the two create with explosive energy and total liberation of any preconceived notions of structure in their art. We had a chance to chat with Jadda Cat about truths, advice, and their work.

Two truths and a lie

(Answer key at the bottom of the interview)

We like to make fools, the system is broken, we all live to seriously. “Why so serious?” we smash, we bash, we crash our bodies and faces all over this clown town.  Paint oozes making messes all over the street. Our bodies melt in front of bystanders as they call 311. Emergency backup shows up with alligators. Our hearts pump lemonade. Urinations comes out the side of our hands.

We make public street pranks while eating teeth. We are NYC physical graffiti making wonky bloopers, Especially now people need to laugh. We’ve tried and broken up the structure, love it hate it, don’t take it too seriously, we’re just village wackos.

I’m a shark, I’m an alligator, I’m a seahorse right now.

Would You Rather

be able to smell the future or hear into the past? Please explain why.

I would smell into the future. I’d have to train myself to understand smell better, but it would be helpful to plan better and alert others of what’s to come. It would be good to know what is gonna hit us all, help others from getting sick, or get them out of danger before it arrives, win the lottery and take over the city from the president and mayor and turn everything free, painted nude.

Some Questions with Jadda Cat

Who has been your biggest support throughout your career?

My love Michael Alan NYC aka donut head

What was the best piece of advice you ever received?

“Don't plan too much it may not come out right.” -Tommy Wiseau.

You refer to yourself as a “living installation.” Why do you think it’s important to take art out of museums and onto the street...or even the subway in your case?

It’s important to change up systems. Art shouldn’t be restricted to live on a wall or in an institution. The Living Installation lives in the NYC streets. It was born here. It sometimes takes form in museums and galleries, but I find it lives best in unexpected places. Bathrooms, dentists offices, taxis, therapy sessions, random flashing at tourists, etc. Our work is about change. It’s living and breathing it lives, it falls, it fails, it gets up. All in the moment and then it disappears. It pops up, changes someone’s day.

Can your creative process be broken down into a mathematical formula?

slop x slop x slop = better slop. 

slop - slop - slop - slop = less slop

The more slop the stronger the outcome. 

One face mask x climbing a sign in Central Park = A top math achievement.

What is the all-time best toy from your childhood? Why?

My favorite toy was Sculpey clay. You can make anything with it. I used to make little characters to play with or gift to my friends.

How has being one half of an art couple enhanced or possibly hindered your work?

Always GOOD we make good trouble, get into alternate realities.

We always have something to always do, sometimes we do too much that we no get food in our belly. It can hurt our bodies so we gotta watch how much slop we apply. We also have to clean our minds very thoroughly.

Historically clowns are predominantly thought to be funny or bring joy. What do you think the role of the clown is in the year 2020?

We are here to cheer up this place. Our clowning is a living art clown revolution. We are giving a look into old NYC funk, just some kids instigating some well overdue art change.

Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)

I’d love to see a change in the art world where success does not rely on who you know, what you look like, or how well you can fill out a grant application. I want all artists to feel they can achieve their dreams without inequality as an obstacle.

Feel free to follow me on Instagram and Mike where we post our art adventures daily. Our website to view filmed performances is www.michaelalanart.com/thelivinginstallation

Two truths and a lie answer key:

Truth: We like to make fools, the system is broken, we all live to seriously. “Why so serious?” we smash, we bash, we crash our bodies and faces all over this clown town.  Paint oozes making messes all over the street. Our bodies melt in front of bystanders as they call 311. Emergency backup shows up with alligators. Our hearts pump lemonade. Urinations comes out the side of our hands.

Truth: We make public street pranks while eating teeth. We are NYC physical graffiti making wonky bloopers, Especially now people need to laugh. We’ve tried and broken up the structure, love it hate it, don’t take it too seriously, we’re just village wackos.

Lie: I’m a shark, I’m an alligator, I’m a seahorse right now.