At the moment I am attending a NODE course on curating performance art. And it made me really think. Why would I even want to put on a performance art event?
I gathered a few of my initial thoughts here:
Coming from street theatre background, for me, performance art has always been connected to the audience and their perception of the action. Setting up a performance art piece, instead of the usual static gallery art works, would mean the possible engagement of people who generally do not visit the galleries or museums. The enticement of something different and exciting might provoke interest in a variety of people who might not be used of art or say they do not like it, because they do not understand it. Performance art can offer many ways of thinking about art and has the prospect of bringing the understanding of it closer to the diverse audience. It allows for a more voyeuristic approach that presents a different kind of experience for people, as well as the artist/s. Participatory pieces are especially vital for visitor’s engagement, because the audience senses they can contribute to the awareness of presented topic. Likewise, the reluctance of people to participate can tell a lot about the art piece and the subject matter that is being researched. Considering all of the above, performance art has the power to transform the meaning of art, make it fun and memorable, all the while converting the anchored ideas of individuals that come into contact with it.
LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS:
- featured image: Ron Athey, Self Obliteration, T5 Project Space, Ljubljana, Slovenija, 2011; Miha Fras.
Research adventureS of a curator 