Glossary

8.1 Photography and performance

10 min read•august 21, 2024

Photography and performance art have a rich, intertwined history. From early documentation to becoming an integral part of the artistic process, photography has evolved to capture ephemeral moments and preserve fleeting expressions for posterity.

The relationship between performers and photographers is crucial in performance art documentation. This collaboration often blurs the lines between artist and documentarian, creating a unique creative dynamic that produces meaningful photographic representations of performances.

History of photography in performance

  • Photography in performance art captures ephemeral moments, preserving fleeting artistic expressions for posterity
  • Photographic documentation of performances evolved from simple record-keeping to an integral part of the artistic process
  • Performance artists increasingly incorporate photography as both a documentary tool and a creative medium in its own right

Early photographic documentation

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  • Began in the late 19th century with the advent of portable cameras
  • Primarily focused on capturing theatrical productions and dance performances
  • Limited by times, resulting in staged, posed images rather than candid shots
  • Photographers like pioneered motion studies, influencing later performance documentation

Photography as performance medium

  • Emerged in the 1960s and 1970s as part of the movement
  • Artists like and used photography to extend the reach of their performances
  • Allowed for the creation of performative works specifically designed for the camera
  • Blurred the lines between live action and photographic representation

Influence on conceptual art

  • Photography enabled artists to document and disseminate ephemeral or site-specific works
  • Conceptual artists like incorporated photographic elements into their practice
  • Led to the development of photo-text pieces and photo-based installations
  • Challenged traditional notions of authorship and originality in art

Photographic techniques for performance

  • Photography in performance art employs various techniques to capture the essence of live events
  • These techniques often push the boundaries of traditional photography, creating unique visual representations
  • Understanding these methods is crucial for both performers and photographers collaborating in the field of performance art

Long exposure and motion blur

  • Captures the passage of time and movement within a single frame
  • Creates ethereal, ghostly images that convey the energy of a performance
  • Often used to represent the fluidity of dance or the intensity of physical theater
  • Requires careful control of lighting and camera settings to achieve desired effects

Multiple exposures and layering

  • Combines several images into a single photograph, representing different moments or perspectives
  • Allows for the creation of surreal or dream-like imagery that reflects the complexity of a performance
  • Can be achieved in-camera or through post-processing techniques
  • Artists like and used this technique to document Yves Klein's "Leap into the Void"

Staged vs candid performance shots

  • Staged shots involve careful composition and direction from the photographer
  • Candid shots capture spontaneous moments during a performance, often revealing unplanned aspects
  • Both approaches have their merits in documenting and interpreting performance art
  • The choice between staged and candid often depends on the artist's intention and the nature of the performance

Relationship between performer and photographer

  • The collaboration between performers and photographers is a crucial aspect of performance art documentation
  • This relationship often blurs the lines between artist and documentarian, creating a unique creative dynamic
  • Understanding and navigating this relationship is essential for producing meaningful photographic representations of performances

Collaboration and artistic vision

  • Performers and photographers work together to determine how best to capture the essence of a piece
  • Involves discussions about framing, timing, and the overall aesthetic of the photographic documentation
  • May include pre-performance planning sessions and post-performance editing collaborations
  • Successful collaborations often result in images that stand as artworks in their own right

Photographer as active participant

  • In some cases, the photographer becomes an integral part of the performance itself
  • May involve the photographer moving within the performance space, interacting with performers
  • Can lead to a more immersive and dynamic documentation of the event
  • Challenges traditional notions of the photographer as a neutral observer

Ethics of performance documentation

  • Raises questions about consent, representation, and the alteration of the original performance
  • Involves considerations of how much the presence of a camera influences the performance itself
  • Addresses issues of ownership and copyright between performers and photographers
  • Requires clear communication and agreements between all parties involved in the documentation process

Photography as performance itself

  • Photography has evolved from a documentation tool to a performative medium in its own right
  • This shift challenges traditional boundaries between performance, photography, and conceptual art
  • Exploring photography as performance opens up new possibilities for artistic expression and audience engagement

Camera as performative tool

  • Artists use the act of taking photographs as a central element of their performance
  • Involves deliberate, choreographed movements with the camera as part of the artistic expression
  • Can include interactions with the audience through the lens of the camera
  • Photographers like have made the process of creating self-portraits a performative act

Self-portraiture in performance art

  • Artists use photography to create staged self-portraits that embody different personas or concepts
  • Allows for exploration of identity, gender, and social roles through visual representation
  • Often involves elaborate costumes, makeup, and set design to create specific characters or scenarios
  • Photographers like and have pushed the boundaries of self-portraiture in performance

Photographic installations and interventions

  • Artists create immersive environments or public interventions using photographic elements
  • Can involve large-scale projections, printed images integrated into physical spaces, or interactive photo-based installations
  • Blurs the line between photography, sculpture, and performance art
  • Artists like JR have used photographic installations to engage with social and political issues in public spaces

Digital age and performance photography

  • The advent of digital technology has revolutionized the way performance art is captured and shared
  • Digital tools offer new possibilities for real-time documentation and manipulation of photographic images
  • This shift has profound implications for the creation, distribution, and reception of performance art photography

Social media and live-streaming

  • Platforms like Instagram and Facebook allow for instant sharing of performance documentation
  • services enable real-time broadcasting of performances to global audiences
  • Creates new opportunities for audience engagement and in performance art
  • Challenges traditional notions of performance documentation as a curated, post-event process

Manipulation and post-processing

  • Digital editing tools allow for extensive alteration and enhancement of performance photographs
  • Enables artists to create hybrid images that blend reality and fiction
  • Raises questions about authenticity and representation in performance documentation
  • Artists like use digital manipulation to create surreal, hyper-realistic images of performative scenes

Virtual and augmented reality integration

  • Emerging technologies allow for immersive, interactive experiences of photographed performances
  • Virtual reality (VR) can place viewers within reconstructed performance spaces
  • Augmented reality (AR) can overlay photographic elements onto real-world environments
  • Opens up new possibilities for preserving and re-experiencing ephemeral performances

Iconic photographers in performance art

  • Throughout the history of performance art, certain photographers have made significant contributions to the field
  • These artists have shaped the way performance is documented, interpreted, and presented through photography
  • Studying their work provides insights into the evolution of performance photography as an art form

Key figures and their contributions

  • documented key performances of the 1970s, including works by Trisha Brown and Yvonne Rainer
  • extensively photographed the movement and experimental theater in New York
  • collaborated with numerous performance artists to create dynamic, staged photographs
  • These photographers helped establish performance photography as a distinct artistic practice

Stylistic approaches and innovations

  • Some photographers focus on capturing the raw energy of live performances
  • Others create carefully composed, theatrical images that reinterpret the original performance
  • Innovations include using multiple cameras, experimenting with unconventional angles, and incorporating mixed media
  • Stylistic choices often reflect the photographer's personal interpretation of the performance

Impact on performance art history

  • Photographic documentation has played a crucial role in preserving ephemeral performances
  • Iconic images have helped shape public perception and critical understanding of performance art
  • Collaborations between photographers and performers have influenced the development of new performance styles
  • The work of these photographers continues to inspire contemporary artists and documentarians

Analysis of photographic performance works

  • Analyzing photographic representations of performance art requires a unique set of critical tools
  • This analysis considers both the original performance and its photographic interpretation
  • Understanding these elements helps in appreciating the complexity of performance photography as an art form

Visual composition and framing

  • Examines how the photographer chooses to frame and compose the image
  • Considers the use of negative space, symmetry, and visual balance in the photograph
  • Analyzes the placement of performers within the frame and their relationship to the environment
  • Explores how composition affects the viewer's interpretation of the performance

Narrative elements in still images

  • Investigates how a single photograph can convey a sense of story or action
  • Considers the use of gestures, expressions, and props to suggest narrative content
  • Examines how the chosen moment captures the essence of the larger performance
  • Analyzes the tension between the frozen moment and the implied movement or progression

Temporality and sequence in photo series

  • Explores how series of photographs can represent the passage of time in a performance
  • Considers the use of sequential images to create a sense of narrative or progression
  • Examines the spacing and pacing of images in a series and their impact on viewer perception
  • Analyzes how photographers represent durational performances through selective documentation

Exhibition and presentation methods

  • The presentation of performance photography plays a crucial role in how it is received and interpreted
  • Various exhibition formats offer different ways of engaging with photographic documentation of performances
  • Understanding these methods is essential for artists, curators, and audiences alike
  • Large-scale prints allow for immersive viewing experiences
  • Series of images can be arranged to create narrative sequences or thematic groupings
  • Interactive displays may incorporate video or audio elements to provide context
  • Exhibition design often considers the relationship between the photographs and the gallery space

Photobooks and artist publications

  • Provide an intimate, portable format for experiencing performance documentation
  • Allow for careful sequencing and juxtaposition of images to create meaning
  • Often include text elements such as artist statements or critical essays
  • Photobooks can become artworks in themselves, extending the life of the original performance

Archival practices for performance documentation

  • Involves careful cataloging and preservation of photographic materials
  • May include both physical prints and digital files
  • Requires consideration of long-term storage and accessibility issues
  • Often involves collaboration between artists, photographers, and institutions to ensure comprehensive documentation

Cultural impact and reception

  • Performance photography has significantly influenced how we understand and engage with performance art
  • The cultural reception of these images shapes public perception of performance as an art form
  • Analyzing the impact of performance photography provides insights into broader cultural trends and artistic movements

Photography's role in performance critique

  • Photographic documentation often serves as the primary source for critical analysis of performances
  • Critics and scholars rely on photographs to study and interpret ephemeral works
  • The choice of which moments to capture can significantly influence critical reception
  • Raises questions about the relationship between the live event and its photographic representation

Audience engagement through images

  • Photographs allow audiences to engage with performances they may not have witnessed in person
  • Social media sharing of performance images creates new forms of virtual audience participation
  • Iconic photographs of performances can become cultural touchstones, reaching beyond the art world
  • Interactive exhibitions and digital platforms offer new ways for audiences to explore performance documentation

Preservation of ephemeral performances

  • Photography plays a crucial role in preserving performances that are inherently temporary
  • Archival photographs become historical documents, allowing future generations to study past performances
  • The act of preservation through photography raises questions about the nature of live art and its documentation
  • Challenges arise in capturing the full sensory and emotional experience of a performance in still images
  • The field of performance photography continues to evolve alongside technological advancements and artistic innovations
  • Emerging trends reflect changing attitudes towards documentation, interactivity, and the nature of performance itself
  • Understanding these trends is crucial for artists, photographers, and curators working in the field of performance art

Emerging technologies and techniques

  • 360-degree cameras allow for immersive documentation of performances
  • Drone photography offers new perspectives on large-scale or site-specific performances
  • AI-assisted editing tools may revolutionize the post-production process for performance documentation
  • Holographic and volumetric capture technologies could create three-dimensional records of performances

Interdisciplinary approaches

  • Increasing collaboration between photographers, performers, and digital artists
  • Integration of performance photography with other media such as sound art or interactive installations
  • Exploration of the boundaries between still photography, video, and live streaming in performance documentation
  • Cross-pollination of ideas between performance photography and fields such as scientific imaging or photojournalism

Challenges and opportunities

  • Balancing the need for documentation with the integrity of the live performance experience
  • Addressing issues of privacy and consent in an era of ubiquitous photography and social media sharing
  • Developing new frameworks for analyzing and critiquing performance photography as a distinct art form
  • Exploring the potential of performance photography to address social and political issues in innovative ways

Key Terms to Review (36)

1960s counterculture: The 1960s counterculture refers to a social movement that emerged in the United States and other Western countries during the 1960s, characterized by a rejection of conventional values, norms, and authority. This movement was marked by a push for civil rights, anti-war protests, and a rise in alternative lifestyles, including artistic experimentation and new forms of expression in art, music, and performance.
7 Easy Pieces: 7 Easy Pieces is a performance art project by Marina Abramović that revisits and reinterprets seminal works from the history of performance art. This series of performances includes works originally created by other artists, allowing Abramović to explore their themes and styles while also infusing them with her own personal interpretation and context.
Aes+f: aes+f, or 'art as a system of culture,' refers to a collaborative art project that merges performance and photography to explore the relationship between visual art and live action. This concept emphasizes the interplay of different mediums, creating a dialogue that examines themes like identity, memory, and the representation of reality. It has gained attention for its innovative approach to integrating various forms of artistic expression.
Babette Mangolte: Babette Mangolte is a French-born artist and filmmaker known for her innovative work in photography and performance art, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. Her work often captures the essence of live performance, merging the mediums of photography and video to document and explore the nature of performance itself. Mangolte's contributions have significantly shaped how artists approach the documentation of performance and have influenced discussions around the relationship between live art and its photographic representation.
Cindy Sherman: Cindy Sherman is an influential American photographer and performance artist, renowned for her conceptual self-portraits that explore identity, gender roles, and the construction of self-image. Through her work, she often adopts various personas and characters, challenging the viewer's perceptions of femininity and societal expectations. Sherman's art intersects photography and performance, showcasing the fluidity of identity while questioning the boundaries between reality and representation.
Claude cahun: Claude Cahun was a French writer and visual artist known for her pioneering work in the fields of photography and performance art, particularly in the early 20th century. Her work challenged gender norms and identity, using self-portraiture as a means of exploring concepts of self and otherness, which is particularly significant in the context of photography and performance.
Conceptual art: Conceptual art is an artistic movement where the idea or concept behind the artwork takes precedence over traditional aesthetic or material concerns. It challenges the notion of art as a physical object, focusing instead on the meaning, context, and processes involved in its creation. This movement intersects with various mediums, emphasizing the relationship between art, thought, and performance.
Dada movement: The dada movement was an avant-garde art movement that emerged in the early 20th century as a reaction against the horrors of World War I and the societal norms that had led to such devastation. It rejected logic, reason, and aesthetic standards in favor of absurdity and irrationality, often utilizing satire and playful experimentation in various art forms, including visual arts, literature, and performance. The movement is significant for its impact on the evolution of modern art and its challenge to traditional cultural values.
Digital media: Digital media refers to any content that is created, distributed, and consumed in a digital format, often involving the use of computers, smartphones, and the internet. This form of media encompasses various artistic expressions and documentation techniques, enabling new ways for performance art to be experienced, shared, and archived, significantly transforming traditional practices in photography, video, and live performances.
Documentary style: Documentary style is a creative approach in visual storytelling that aims to represent reality through an authentic lens, often highlighting real events, people, and situations. This style is characterized by its emphasis on factual representation, capturing spontaneity, and often employing techniques that blur the line between art and documentation, especially in performance art where the performer’s interaction with the audience and environment plays a key role.
Eadweard Muybridge: Eadweard Muybridge was a pioneering British photographer known for his work in motion-picture projection and sequential photography. He is best recognized for his groundbreaking series of photographs capturing human and animal locomotion, which played a crucial role in the development of moving images and cinema. His experiments laid the foundation for understanding motion in art and performance, influencing both photography and film.
Ephemerality: Ephemerality refers to the quality of being transient or short-lived, particularly in the context of art and performance where the experience exists only in the moment it occurs. This fleeting nature often challenges traditional notions of permanence and invites audiences to engage with art that cannot be fully captured or replicated, emphasizing the importance of the live experience.
Fluxus: Fluxus is an international art movement that emerged in the 1960s, characterized by its emphasis on the process of art-making, the blending of different artistic disciplines, and the idea of art as an experience rather than a finished product. The movement is known for its radical approach to art and performance, drawing on ideas from Dada and Futurism, while challenging traditional notions of art through participatory events and conceptual practices.
Happenings: Happenings are spontaneous, often interactive events that blur the boundaries between art and life, created primarily in the 1960s. These performances emphasize experience over traditional artistic objects, aiming to engage audiences in a more immersive and participatory manner.
Harry Shunk: Harry Shunk was a prominent photographer known for his influential work capturing performance art during the 1960s and 1970s. His photography documented key moments in the performance art movement, creating a visual archive that has helped shape the understanding of this genre. Shunk's images not only recorded performances but also contributed to the dialogue around the ephemeral nature of live art and its representation through photography.
Interaction: Interaction refers to the dynamic relationship and engagement between participants, objects, and the environment within a performance context. It encompasses the ways in which performers communicate with one another, their audience, and the medium of photography, creating a shared experience that transcends mere observation and invites active participation.
János Kender: János Kender is a Hungarian performance artist and photographer known for integrating photography with live performance art. His work often challenges the boundaries between visual art and physical expression, using the camera as a tool to capture ephemeral moments of performance, thus creating a dialogue between the two mediums.
John Baldessari: John Baldessari was an influential American artist known for his pioneering work in conceptual art, blending photography, painting, and text in unique ways. His innovative approach often challenged traditional boundaries of art, making him a significant figure in the evolution of performance and photographic practices in contemporary art.
Layering: Layering refers to the technique of combining multiple elements in performance art and photography to create depth, complexity, and meaning. This approach allows artists to juxtapose different visual or auditory elements, enhancing the narrative and emotional resonance of their work. It can involve overlapping images, sounds, or even physical actions that together contribute to a richer experience for the audience.
Live-streaming: Live-streaming is a method of broadcasting real-time audio and video content over the internet to an audience. It allows performers to engage with viewers in real-time, creating an interactive experience that can enhance the relationship between the artist and the audience. This technology has transformed how performances are shared and experienced, expanding accessibility and participation.
Long exposure: Long exposure is a photographic technique that involves using a slow shutter speed to capture motion over an extended period of time. This method allows for the blending of stationary and moving elements within a single image, creating dynamic visuals and unique effects. By keeping the camera's shutter open for a longer duration, photographers can achieve creative results, such as light trails, smooth water surfaces, and ghostly figures in performance art contexts.
Manuel Vason: Manuel Vason is a contemporary artist and photographer known for his unique approach to the intersection of photography and performance art. He collaborates with various performance artists to document live performances, capturing the ephemeral nature of their work through still images. Vason’s photography is characterized by its ability to encapsulate movement, emotion, and the transitory moments that define performance art.
Marina Abramović: Marina Abramović is a Serbian performance artist known for her pioneering work in the field of performance art, which often explores themes of endurance, the body, and the relationship between artist and audience. Her innovative approach has significantly influenced contemporary performance art, making her a prominent figure in discussions about identity, feminism, and the emotional impact of live art.
Motion blur: Motion blur is a photographic effect that occurs when a moving subject or camera is captured during a short exposure time, resulting in a streaking or blurring effect that conveys the sense of movement. This visual phenomenon can add dynamism and emotional impact to an image, making it a powerful tool in both photography and performance art, where capturing the essence of movement is crucial.
Multiple exposures: Multiple exposures refer to a photographic technique where the same frame of film or digital sensor is exposed more than once, resulting in a single image that combines multiple moments or subjects into one composition. This technique allows for creative expression by layering images, creating visual narratives, and conveying complex ideas in a single photograph. It blurs the line between time and space, making it a powerful tool in both photography and performance art.
Participation: Participation in performance art refers to the involvement of audiences, communities, or individuals in the creation and experience of an artwork. This concept challenges traditional boundaries between the performer and the viewer, often transforming the audience into active collaborators rather than passive observers. By emphasizing engagement, participation can reshape how art is experienced, interpreted, and valued in various contexts.
Peter Moore: Peter Moore is a notable figure in the field of performance art, recognized for his innovative integration of photography with live performances. His work often explores the relationship between the ephemeral nature of live art and the permanence of photographic documentation, raising questions about memory, representation, and the viewer's experience.
Postmodernism: Postmodernism is an artistic and cultural movement that emerged in the mid-20th century, characterized by a questioning of traditional narratives, conventions, and ideologies. It often embraces fragmentation, parody, and the blending of different styles and media, reflecting the complexities of contemporary society. This movement is significant in various art forms, challenging established norms and emphasizing individual experience.
Spectatorship: Spectatorship refers to the relationship between a performance and its audience, emphasizing how viewers engage with, interpret, and respond to a performance. This concept not only shapes the audience's experience but also influences the artist's intent, especially when considering the role of the audience in shaping meaning and creating a communal experience.
Staged photography: Staged photography is a form of photography where the scene is carefully arranged or constructed, often involving props, costumes, and models to create a specific narrative or concept. This approach blurs the line between reality and artifice, allowing artists to convey messages or evoke emotions through deliberate composition and visual storytelling. The integration of performance elements in staged photography enhances its ability to engage viewers and provoke thought.
Staged vs candid performance shots: Staged performance shots are carefully planned and choreographed images that showcase a specific moment or aspect of a performance, often arranged for aesthetic purposes. In contrast, candid performance shots capture spontaneous, unposed moments that reveal the raw emotions and interactions of performers, providing an authentic glimpse into the art form. Both types of shots play vital roles in documenting performances and conveying different artistic narratives.
The Artist is Present: The Artist is Present is a groundbreaking performance art piece created by Marina Abramović in 2010, where she sat silently at a table for over 700 hours, inviting the audience to sit across from her and share a moment of presence. This work explores themes of connection, vulnerability, and the act of being fully present with another individual, which challenges traditional boundaries between artist and viewer. The piece becomes an intersection of conceptual art and performance, inviting reflection on the nature of art itself.
Vito Acconci: Vito Acconci was a groundbreaking performance artist and conceptual artist known for his provocative and often confrontational works that challenged the boundaries of art, identity, and the body. His approach often incorporated elements of the body and endurance, emphasizing personal experience and the relationship between the artist and the audience.
Yasumasa Morimura: Yasumasa Morimura is a contemporary Japanese artist known for his innovative use of photography and performance art, often exploring themes of identity, representation, and cultural critique. His work typically involves Morimura himself in elaborate costumes and makeup, recreating iconic artworks and scenes from art history, effectively merging the boundaries between the artist, subject, and observer.
Yoko Ono: Yoko Ono is a Japanese multimedia artist, singer, and peace activist known for her pioneering work in conceptual art and performance art. She has significantly influenced feminist performance art, challenging societal norms around gender and identity through her provocative and thought-provoking works.
Yves Klein: Yves Klein was a French artist, known for his innovative contributions to the art world, particularly in the fields of performance art and monochrome painting. His work often blurred the lines between different artistic mediums, emphasizing the importance of experience and perception in art. Klein's fascination with color and his pioneering performance pieces, like 'Anthropometry,' showcased his belief that art could transcend traditional boundaries.
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