🎭Performance Art Unit 11 – Performance Art: Cultural & Political Contexts

Historical Roots and Evolution

• Performance art emerged in the early 20th century as artists sought to challenge traditional art forms and blur the boundaries between art and life
• Futurist and Dadaist movements of the 1910s and 1920s incorporated elements of performance, such as poetry readings and experimental theater, into their artistic practices
• In the 1960s and 1970s, performance art gained prominence as a distinct genre, with artists like Yoko Ono, Vito Acconci, and Marina Abramović exploring the body, identity, and social norms through their performances
  • Yoko Ono's "Cut Piece" (1964) involved the artist sitting passively while audience members cut away pieces of her clothing, challenging notions of gender, vulnerability, and the artist-audience relationship
• The Fluxus movement, founded in the 1960s, emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of art into everyday life, influencing the development of performance art
• Feminist artists in the 1970s, such as Carolee Schneemann and Hannah Wilke, used performance to address issues of gender, sexuality, and the female body
• In the 1980s and 1990s, performance art became increasingly diverse, with artists exploring themes of race, identity, and globalization
• The rise of digital technologies and social media in the 21st century has led to new forms of performance art, such as online performances and interactive installations

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Performance art is a term that encompasses a wide range of artistic practices that involve the artist's body, actions, and presence as the primary medium
• Ephemeral refers to the temporary and transient nature of performance art, which often exists only in the moment of its creation and cannot be easily reproduced or commodified
• Site-specific performances are created in response to a particular location or context, often engaging with the physical, social, or historical aspects of the site
• Durational performances extend over a significant period, testing the limits of the artist's endurance and the audience's attention
  • Marina Abramović's "The Artist is Present" (2010) involved the artist sitting silently across from individual audience members for over 700 hours
• Participatory performances actively involve the audience in the creation or execution of the work, blurring the lines between artist and spectator
• Body art is a subset of performance art that uses the artist's body as the primary medium, often exploring themes of physical and psychological endurance, transformation, or vulnerability
• Intermedia describes the interdisciplinary nature of performance art, which often incorporates elements of visual art, theater, dance, music, and technology
• Documentation, such as photographs, videos, or written accounts, plays a crucial role in preserving and disseminating performance art, which is otherwise ephemeral

Cultural Influences and Representations

• Performance art draws from and responds to a wide range of cultural influences, including traditional art forms, popular culture, and social and political issues
• Ritual and ceremony, such as religious rites, shamanic practices, and cultural festivals, have influenced the structure and content of many performance art pieces
  • Joseph Beuys' "I Like America and America Likes Me" (1974) involved the artist spending three days in a gallery with a live coyote, evoking Native American mythology and the complex relationship between humans and nature
• Theater and dance traditions, such as Japanese Butoh, have informed the physical and expressive techniques used by performance artists
• Performance art often engages with and critiques representations of gender, race, and sexuality in popular culture and media
• Cultural identity and diaspora are explored by many performance artists, who use their bodies and experiences to navigate issues of belonging, displacement, and hybridity
• The rise of global communication and travel has led to increased cross-cultural exchange and collaboration in performance art
• Performance art has been used to preserve and celebrate marginalized or endangered cultural practices, such as indigenous languages and traditions

Political Contexts and Activism

• Performance art has often been used as a tool for political activism and social critique, addressing issues such as war, inequality, and human rights
• In the 1960s and 1970s, performance artists responded to the Vietnam War, civil rights movement, and women's liberation movement through works that challenged the status quo and advocated for change
  • Suzanne Lacy's "Three Weeks in May" (1977) involved a series of public performances and discussions that raised awareness about rape and violence against women
• Performance art has been used to protest authoritarian regimes and censorship, with artists risking arrest, imprisonment, or exile for their politically charged works
• Environmental and ecological concerns have been addressed by performance artists, who use their bodies and actions to draw attention to issues such as climate change and species extinction
• Performance art has been a platform for marginalized communities, such as LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color, to assert their visibility and demand social and political recognition
• Collaborative and participatory performances have been used to build solidarity and empower communities in the face of oppression or adversity
• In the 21st century, performance artists have responded to issues such as globalization, surveillance, and the impact of technology on society and the body

Notable Artists and Works

• Marina Abramović is known for her physically and emotionally demanding performances that explore the limits of the body and the relationship between artist and audience
  • "Rhythm 0" (1974) involved Abramović placing 72 objects, including a gun and a knife, on a table and allowing the audience to use them on her body as they desired
• Chris Burden's early works often involved extreme physical risk and endurance, such as "Shoot" (1971), in which the artist had a friend shoot him in the arm with a rifle
• Vito Acconci's "Seedbed" (1972) involved the artist masturbating under a ramp in a gallery while voicing his fantasies about the visitors walking above him
• Carolee Schneemann's "Interior Scroll" (1975) featured the artist reading from a scroll she extracted from her vagina, challenging taboos surrounding the female body and sexuality
• Guillermo Gómez-Peña's "The Couple in the Cage" (1992) involved the artist and a collaborator presenting themselves as indigenous specimens in a museum display, critiquing the exoticization and objectification of non-Western cultures
• Tania Bruguera's "Tatlin's Whisper #5" (2008) invited audience members to use a minute of free speech at a podium, only to be escorted away by actors dressed as military police, commenting on the limits of freedom and the power of the state
• Pussy Riot, a Russian feminist punk collective, stages unauthorized performances in public spaces to protest the Putin regime and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights

Techniques and Mediums

• Performance art incorporates a wide range of techniques and mediums, often blurring the boundaries between art forms and disciplines
• The artist's body is the primary medium in many performance art pieces, used to express ideas, emotions, and physical states through gestures, movements, and actions
• Spoken word, monologue, and dialogue are used by performance artists to convey narratives, ideas, and personal experiences
  • Karen Finley's "We Keep Our Victims Ready" (1990) featured the artist delivering a monologue that addressed sexual violence, misogyny, and the AIDS crisis
• Music, sound, and noise are incorporated into performances to create atmosphere, evoke emotions, or disrupt expectations
• Visual elements, such as costumes, props, and sets, are used to enhance the visual and symbolic impact of the performance
• Technology, including video, projection, and digital media, has been increasingly integrated into performance art, allowing for new forms of interaction and expression
• Collaboration with other artists, such as musicians, dancers, and visual artists, is common in performance art, leading to interdisciplinary and multimedia works
• Improvisation and spontaneity are often employed by performance artists to respond to the audience, the environment, or the unfolding of the piece itself

Audience Engagement and Participation

• Performance art often seeks to break down the traditional barriers between artist and audience, inviting viewers to become active participants in the work
• Participatory performances may involve the audience in physical actions, decision-making, or dialogue, blurring the lines between spectator and performer
  • Yoko Ono's "Painting to Hammer a Nail" (1961) invited audience members to hammer nails into a wooden board, gradually filling the surface and transforming the piece over time
• Interactive performances use technology or other means to create a responsive environment in which the audience's actions or presence affect the unfolding of the work
• Immersive performances surround the audience in a carefully designed sensory experience, often using multiple rooms, environments, or sensory stimuli
• Site-specific performances engage with the physical, social, or historical context of a particular location, often inviting the audience to explore or interact with the space in new ways
• Durational performances may test the audience's patience, attention, or commitment, encouraging a deeper level of engagement or reflection
• The presence and reactions of the audience become an integral part of the performance, shaping its meaning and impact in real-time
• Documentation of audience engagement, such as photographs, videos, or written responses, becomes part of the larger narrative and legacy of the performance

Contemporary Trends and Future Directions

• Performance art continues to evolve and expand in the 21st century, responding to new technologies, social issues, and artistic concerns
• The rise of social media and online platforms has led to new forms of performance art, such as Instagram-based works, livestreamed performances, and virtual reality experiences
  • Amalia Ulman's "Excellences & Perfections" (2014) was a scripted performance played out through the artist's Instagram feed, blurring the lines between real life and constructed identity
• Posthumanism and the impact of technology on the body and identity have become major themes in contemporary performance art
• Climate change, environmental degradation, and the Anthropocene have inspired performance artists to create works that raise awareness, critique consumerism, or imagine alternative futures
• The global pandemic has forced performance artists to adapt to new constraints and opportunities, such as socially distanced or online performances
• Collaborative and participatory practices continue to be central to performance art, with artists working across disciplines, cultures, and communities to create new forms of engagement and expression
• The increasing diversity and inclusivity of the art world has led to a greater range of voices and perspectives in performance art, challenging dominant narratives and representation
• The future of performance art may involve further integration of technology, science, and other fields, as well as a continued emphasis on social and political activism