He Fa on Klaus Nomi

Glossy black shoulders and chest extend into an inverted triangle, with a white chest panel repeating the narrowing inside until it reaches a very slender waist. The stage structure associated with Klaus Nomi resembles a giant emphasis mark, with He Fa's face appearing above the emphasis. Even without sound, the figure has already arranged a forceful background for every possible opening of the mouth. I want to test how that background treats a very softly spoken sentence. Sharp corners excel at concentrating attention, but may make hesitation seem insufficiently forceful. If the appearance is too definite, the body is readily asked to be equally decisive, so that even an unfinished syllable seems to spoil the whole. I do not want a clear outline to become a screening that speech must pass first.

White gloves appear at the sides, far smaller than the shoulders, but providing another route for expression. Fingers can be slower, movements finer than the large figure on the chest. They make me believe that a stage costume can arrange several volumes at once: one part draws people closer, while another lets those who approach discover that more than one assertive tone exists here.

Weakening the figure too much can also deprive performance of direction. A strong frame can sometimes protect an expression ordinarily drowned out. I am willing to retain the inverted triangle's power, asking only that it not dictate the texture of every sentence within it in return. Form should provide conditions for something to happen, rather than assume that content has been well cared for simply because form is conspicuous enough.

So I let the black-and-white chest panel stay sharp and the gloves stay soft. The face can retain a slightly sleepy everyday expression, without tensing forever to match the whole outline. If a voice finally appears, it may be high, soft or pause midway. If sharp corners are truly useful, they should carry these differences forward together, rather than reserve space only for the loudest.