Carol Syzmanski's 'He Said I Thought' Installation at Signs and Symbols Explores Corporate Life Through #MeToo Lens

Carol Syzmanski's exhibition 'He Said I Thought' at Signs and Symbols features a dense, intertwined installation incorporating text pieces, 8-channel video, textual wallpaper, and sculpture. The work includes mesh reworkings of designer suits by Valentino, Jill Sander, and Alexander McQueen that Syzmanski wore during her previous career as a corporate banker. A schedule of live performances presents a full-blown drama where these suits and found poetry fold into narratives with distinct #MeToo themes. Poet and visual artist Simone Kearney performs as the 'Jill Sander' suit character, while sardonic commentary comes from a misogynistic boss voiced by artcritical editor David Cohen in his NYC acting debut. The installation draws from Syzmanski's daily email practice that generated crowd-sourced poetic synonyms arranged according to Roget's Thesaurus categories, known as her 'Cockshut Dummy' series. Performances take place in an intimate shoebox venue where the cast and crew nearly match the seated audience in size. The exhibition remains on view through November 17 at 102 Forsyth Street, with remaining performances scheduled for November 8 and 10 requiring strict RSVP seating via info@signsandsymbols.art.