6.4 Documentation and Preservation of Performance Art

Performance art is all about the moment, but how do we keep it alive? Artists and institutions use photos, videos, and live streams to capture the magic. These visual records preserve the energy and allow audiences worldwide to experience performances long after they've ended.

But documentation isn't just about watching. Re-enactments bring old works to life with new performers. Written instructions and artist interviews provide insights into the creative process. Even physical objects from performances become important relics, connecting us to ephemeral moments in tangible ways.

Visual Documentation

Photography and Video Documentation

Top images from around the web for Photography and Video Documentation

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Top images from around the web for Photography and Video Documentation

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  File:02015 1477 The history of performance art in Austria and Poland Bereś, Warpechowski ... View original

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  Performance art - Wikipedia View original

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  File:Bend and Snap, contemporary dance performance at Nazareth College Arts Center, Rochester ... View original

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  File:02015 1477 The history of performance art in Austria and Poland Bereś, Warpechowski ... View original

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• Photography captures still images of performances, preserving key moments
• Photographers often collaborate closely with artists to document their work
• Video documentation records entire performances, capturing movement and sound
• High-quality video equipment allows for detailed preservation of nuanced gestures
• Both photography and video require careful consideration of lighting, angles, and framing
• Artists may incorporate documentation into the performance itself (live projections)
• Archives and museums collect visual documentation for research and exhibition purposes

Live Streaming and Digital Dissemination

• Live streaming broadcasts performances in real-time to remote audiences
• Platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram Live enable global access to performances
• Live streaming creates new possibilities for audience interaction and participation
• Digital dissemination allows for wider reach and potential virality of performance art
• Challenges of live streaming include technical issues and loss of physical presence
• Some artists create works specifically designed for live streaming formats
• Digital dissemination raises questions about authenticity and the nature of live performance

Re-enactment and Reproduction

Re-performance Strategies

• Re-performance involves recreating past performances with new performers
• Artists may provide detailed instructions or allow for interpretation in re-performances
• Re-performances can breathe new life into historical works and reach new audiences
• Challenges of re-performance include capturing the original context and energy
• Notable re-performances include Marina Abramović's "Seven Easy Pieces" (2005)
• Re-performances often spark debates about authorship and authenticity
• Museums and galleries increasingly use re-performance as a preservation strategy

Scores and Instructional Documentation

• Scores provide written or visual instructions for recreating performances
• Fluxus artists pioneered the use of event scores for participatory art
• Instructions range from simple directives to complex, multi-page documents
• Scores allow for multiple interpretations and variations of a single work
• Artists like Yoko Ono have published books of performance instructions
• Instructional documentation preserves the concept of a work, not just its visual appearance
• Challenges include balancing specificity with room for interpretation

Physical and Oral Preservation

Relics and Artifact Conservation

• Relics consist of physical objects used in or resulting from performances
• Artifacts may include costumes, props, set pieces, or traces left by actions
• Conservation of relics requires specialized knowledge of diverse materials
• Museums display relics to provide tangible connections to ephemeral performances
• Challenges include determining which objects are essential to preserve
• Some artists intentionally create or designate relics as part of their practice
• Relics can take on new meanings when separated from their original context

Oral History and Artist Interviews

• Oral history preserves firsthand accounts of performances and artistic intentions
• Interviews with artists, collaborators, and audience members capture multiple perspectives
• Oral histories provide context and insight not visible in visual documentation
• Challenges include reliance on memory and potential for conflicting accounts
• Archives and institutions conduct and preserve oral histories for future research
• Oral histories can reveal the creative process and evolution of an artist's practice
• Combining oral histories with other forms of documentation creates a richer record

Digital Preservation

Digital Archiving Techniques

• Digital archives store and organize various forms of performance documentation
• High-resolution scans preserve physical documents and photographs
• Digital video formats allow for long-term storage of performance recordings
• Metadata and tagging systems enable efficient searching and cross-referencing
• Cloud storage and backup systems protect against data loss
• Digital archives face challenges of technological obsolescence and format migration
• Virtual reality and 3D scanning create immersive digital preservation experiences

Access and Dissemination Strategies

• Online databases provide global access to performance art archives
• Digital platforms allow for curated presentations of archival materials
• Interactive websites enable users to explore documentation in non-linear ways
• Social media integration helps disseminate archival content to wider audiences
• Digital rights management protects artists' intellectual property
• Collaborative projects like UbuWeb aggregate and share performance documentation
• Challenges include balancing open access with copyright and privacy concerns