'Fanatic' at g39 Cardiff - www.TanOren.co.uk

Cinderella

Getting an email from g39 gallery in Cardiff asking me to take part in their latest show ‘Fanatic’ was a wonderful surprise.
So far, any art related projects I’ve been a part of, I’ve had to apply for (and we all know about the constant rejection!), actually being ASKED to take part was a new thing for me. Only problem was, I had just 4 weeks to produce something for the show.
WHAT am I fanatical about? Oh dear, too many things… Kate Bush, Films, Music, there was literally, TOO much choice ,,, so I began to think of my very first obsession.
Cinderella
One of my first memories is standing in front of my class, aged 4, regaling the story of Cinderella, despite never having seen the film (this was 1969, so before video/dvd). I had a book, with pictures of the Disney film, and because I couldn’t read, i made it up. My own version of Cinderella, which actually wasn’t so different from the Disney version.

Cinderella has saved me at certain points in my life. Pretending I am her, imagining that – like her, I’d one day escape, that a handsome Prince would take me away from the wicked stepmother, from the pain and abuse, and a handsome, GOOD, Prince would take me away to live in a clean castle, with food in it, where I would be happy and …..
How on earth could I possibly get that message over? HOW do you explain something so complicated and visceral, and wrap it up in a bow of art?
Well. you just… do it.
I began by thinking of a version of myself as Cinders, Fat Cinderella (for I was, and am fat), more an ugly sister, than a beautiful waif, was created. She doesn’t look like me, she’s a fat fantasy version. I also drew several portraits of myself with various facial emotions, and with my mouth taped up. Boy that stung when I ripped it off.

I’m very lucky to have a musician son who helped me with the production and music of the song (Thanks Wes), and this song is the narrative for the project. It is, essentially, why Cinderella means so much to me. It’s based on a poem I’d written as lyrics. The poem is ever changing, I think there has been at least 15 versions of it over the last 5 years, and every version is a struggle for me.
Massive thanks to g39, Anthony Shapland and Caitlin Davies for giving me a chance and for their support.
All studio images courtesy of G39 (Fanatic G39 2025).