Chest Reveal by Felix Jackson

Chest Reveal centres on the slow erasure of a wax cast taken from my pre-mastectomy chest. Where surgery altered my body seemingly in an instant, this work allows me to revisit that transformation in a tangible way, at a pace I can control. Each movement simultaneously erases the wax and leaves behind scar-like lines that echo the marks of surgery.

The video forms the core of this window installation, accompanied by remnants of wax, silicone impressions, and the original mould used to form the cast. Together, these materials extend the performance into the physical space, offering multiple traces of what has been lost, carried, and transformed.

Chest Reveal considers transition as an ongoing, layered process rather than a single event, holding both past and present versions of myself in the same frame. 

About the artist:

Felix Jackson (they/them) is an emerging artist working between Gadigal and Dharug lands. Their artistic practice is deeply rooted in autobiography, where they investigate personal experiences through performance art, installation, and sculpture. Felix is drawn to the act of documenting and capturing remnants of lived moments, creating a tangible connection to what has been experienced. While their work is an ongoing conversation with themself, it also explores universal themes that invite others to reflect on their own experiences.

Felix studied at Nepean Arts and Design Centre from 2022-2023, graduating with an Advanced Diploma of Visual Arts. Felix was a recipient of Penrith City Council’s Magnetic Places grant with their community art project, A Place for Us in 2024. Their debut solo exhibition, transcript, opened in November 2024 at Penrith Regional Gallery.

Felix is also a co-founder of Riff Raff ARI, which is dedicated to building a more connected creative community in the Penrith area. Through their role at Riff Raff ARI, Felix has worked on various projects and community initiatives including Riff Rag (a yearly Western Sydney Art Magazine), Rat House (exhibition/community event) and monthly artist gatherings in Penrith.

Image caption: Felix Jackson, Chest Reveal, 2024, performance video (video still)

This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW and the City of Sydney Creative Studios.