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# The Absurdist Echoes of Tudor Tyranny
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/cate-giordano-rex-postmasters-gallery/
- Published: 2020-11-20T20:03:43.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T16:06:17.000Z
- Description: Cate Giordano’s immersive tableaux hurl the viewer headfirst into a historical clusterfuck that eerily recalls the present day.
- Author: Cassie Packard
- Tags: Art, New York, Postmasters Gallery, Review, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-hidden, #Import 2025-11-24 09:08 (2019, 2020, part 3)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2020/11/image1_lg-1.jpg)

Installation view of *REX*, Postmasters Gallery, 2020 (all images courtesy Postmasters Gallery)

[King Henry VIII of England](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry%5FVIII?ref=hyperallergic.com) is perhaps best known for founding the Church of England and having six wives, two of whom he executed. *REX*, [Cate Giordano’](https://www.categiordano.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com)s soloexhibition at Postmasters Gallery, recounts Henry’s brief, awkward relationship with his fourth wife, [Anne of Cleves](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne%5Fof%5FCleves?ref=hyperallergic.com), whom he married sight unseen on the advice of his political advisor Thomas Cromwell. The two divorced within six months, largely because Henry found her to be less attractive than [her court portrait by Hans Holbein](https://www.wga.hu/html%5Fm/h/holbein/hans%5Fy/1535h/04cleves.html?ref=hyperallergic.com) suggested.

Giordano’s immersive tableau-cum-visual wormhole hurls the viewer headfirst into this historic clusterfuck, chronicling a tale of duplicity: the inconsistent portrait, the wedding initially conducted by proxy, and the "surprise" first meeting in which Henry donned a disguise. Navigating cartoonish faux stained glass and banquet tables of spray foam meat, visitorsencounter a cast of courtesanscrudely fabricated from materials such as wire, duct tape, and cling wrap. Giordano confounds gender and power dynamics by playing both Anne of Cleves and a drag king Henry in short, soapy scenes projected on the walls. Slippages and doublings abound, as characters and props in the gallery space — [Anne Boleyn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne%5FBoleyn?ref=hyperallergic.com), a leg of ham — materialize onscreen.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2020/11/cate_install14_lg.jpg)

Installation view of *REX*, Postmasters Gallery, 2020

The histrionics of a monarch who — enabled by his pandering court — was egotistical at best and tyrannical at worst feel all too familiar: I leave seeing double.

[REX](http://www.postmastersart.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com) *continues through December 19 at Postmasters Gallery (54 Franklin Street,* *Manhattan, New York).* *UPDATE: This exhibition has been extended through December 31.*