Indigenous Absurdities is a solo exhibition that debuts a new body of work by Boulder-based artist Anna Tsouhlarakis (b. 1977, Lawrence, KS). Tsouhlarakis is Dine (Navajo), Muscogee (Greek), and Greek and often draws from her Native American heritage to create sculpture, video. performance, and installation artworks that speak to other Natives, and challenge the aesthetic and conceptual expectations placed upon Indigenous artists working today.

For Indigenous Absurdities, Tsouhlarakis foregrounds ​“Indian humour”, an Indigenous, colloquial phrase for Native American jokes dealing with specific tribes, families, and, occasionally, specific people, as the thematic base for her new sculptures, video, and mixed media works. Sarcasm, wit, and humor have been an undercurrent of Tsouhlarakis” practice for over 20 years, adding a sense of levity to the pressing topics she takes on. From meme-like text works that playfully examine indigenous rights and histories in the United States, to sculptures using reconfigured Ikea furiture remnants to address decolonization efforts. Tsouhlarakis imbues her own personal sense of humor into her works while reflecting on the complexities of the contemporary Native experience. 

The body of work presented in this exhibition centers on Indigenous humor and its role in reifying communities and identities. Whether situated in history or the present day jokes are often rooted in truth. Amusing, illogical, and sometimes ridiculous, they reframe our understanding of the world around us. Employing snarky and sarcastic phrases with titles like SHE’S TOO REZ FOR YOU BRO and HER BEADWORK ISN’T VINTAGE, IT’S JUST OLD, Tsouhlarakis pairs these one-liners with materially and symbolically layered works that attempt to visualize the spirit of each. 

Drawing from crowdsourced research from friends, family, and a broad network of Native communities across the US Tsouhlarakis collected Indigenous jokes, stories, and teasing phrases, deconstructing only to reassemble them as collages, video, and sculptures. Bringing viewers ​“in on the joke” or inviting other Indigenous people to enjoy the humor present in diverse Native communities, as they, experience the exhibition, Tsouhlarakis new works offer new connections to the rich lexicon of Indigenous humor, while highlighting a polyphonic understanding of Native American identity and expression.

About the artist

Anna Tsouhlarakis works in sculpture, installation, video, and performance. Tsouhlarakis graduated from Dartmouth College and then Yale University. She has participated in various art residencies and been part of national and international exhibitions. Tsouhlarakis is Greek and Creek, and an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.