1.5 Performance art in the 1970s and 1980s

Performance art in the 1970s and 1980s pushed boundaries, challenging traditional art forms and societal norms. Artists used their bodies as primary mediums, addressing issues like gender, race, and politics through provocative and innovative approaches.

Key figures like Carolee Schneemann, Marina Abramović, and Chris Burden gained recognition for their radical works. Themes explored included identity, ritual, and audience participation, often blurring the line between art and life in ways that continue to influence contemporary artists.

Origins of 1970s-80s performance art

• Performance art in the 1970s-80s emerged as a radical form of artistic expression challenging traditional art forms and societal norms
• This period marked a shift towards more conceptual, body-centered, and politically engaged artistic practices
• Artists sought to break down barriers between art and life, often using their own bodies as primary mediums

Influences from earlier movements

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• Dadaism inspired absurdist and anti-art elements in performance art
• Abstract Expressionism's emphasis on the act of creation influenced performative aspects
• Happenings of the 1950s and 60s laid groundwork for audience participation and improvisation
• Minimalism's focus on simplicity and repetition informed durational performances

Social and political context

• Civil rights movement spurred artists to address issues of race and identity in their work
• Second-wave feminism influenced female artists to explore gender roles and body politics
• Vietnam War protests inspired politically charged performances and anti-establishment themes
• Cold War tensions led to performances critiquing nuclear proliferation and global power dynamics

Key artists and collectives

• Performance art in this era featured diverse artists pushing boundaries of traditional art forms
• Collectives formed to create collaborative works and support experimental practices
• Many artists gained recognition for their provocative and innovative approaches to performance

Feminist performance artists

• Carolee Schneemann explored female sexuality and body autonomy in works like "Interior Scroll" (1975)
• Ana Mendieta used her body to connect with nature and address themes of displacement in "Silueta Series" (1973-1980)
• Yoko Ono challenged gender norms and audience expectations in "Cut Piece" (1964, performed throughout 1970s)
• Hannah Wilke critiqued beauty standards and objectification in her "S.O.S. Starification Object Series" (1974-1982)

Body art pioneers

• Vito Acconci explored personal space and sexuality in works like "Seedbed" (1972)
• Bruce Nauman used repetitive bodily movements to examine the nature of art in "Walking in an Exaggerated Manner Around the Perimeter of a Square" (1967-68)
• Gina Pane performed self-mutilation acts to confront viewers with physical pain in "The Conditioning" (1973)
• Stelarc suspended his body with hooks to investigate the limits of corporeality in "Suspensions" (1976-1988)

Fluxus and conceptual artists

• Nam June Paik integrated technology and performance in works like "TV Buddha" (1974)
• Joseph Beuys blended shamanic rituals with social sculpture in "I Like America and America Likes Me" (1974)
• Yayoi Kusama created immersive environments and happenings exploring infinity and repetition
• Allan Kaprow organized participatory events blurring art and life in his "Happenings" throughout the 1970s

Themes and concepts

• Performance art of this period explored a wide range of themes reflecting societal changes and artistic innovations
• Artists often addressed multiple concepts within a single work, creating layered and complex performances
• Many themes centered around challenging societal norms and expanding the definition of art

Identity and representation

• Exploration of racial identity in Adrian Piper's "Mythic Being" series (1973-1975)
• Gender fluidity and androgyny in works by Claude Cahun and VALIE EXPORT
• Cultural heritage and diaspora experiences addressed in Guillermo Gómez-Peña's performances
• Disability and body diversity explored in Mary Duffy's nude self-portrait performances

Politics and activism

• Anti-war sentiment expressed in Yoko Ono and John Lennon's "Bed-In for Peace" (1969)
• Institutional critique in Hans Haacke's "MoMA Poll" (1970) addressing museum policies
• Environmental activism in Joseph Beuys' "7000 Oaks" project (1982)
• LGBTQ+ rights advocacy in works by groups like Split Britches and WOW Café Theatre

Ritual and endurance

• Marina Abramović's exploration of physical and mental limits in "Rhythm" series (1973-1974)
• Tehching Hsieh's year-long performances including "One Year Performance 1978–1979 (Cage Piece)"
• Ron Athey's blood rituals addressing HIV/AIDS crisis and religious iconography
• Linda Montano's "Seven Years of Living Art" (1984-1991) based on chakra system

Techniques and approaches

• Performance artists of this era developed innovative techniques to convey their ideas and engage audiences
• Many artists pushed physical and psychological boundaries in their work
• Experimentation with duration, repetition, and improvisation became common practices

Body as medium

• Using bodily fluids in performances (blood, urine) to confront taboos and mortality
• Endurance-based works testing physical limits through fasting, sleep deprivation, or isolation
• Body modification and cosmetic surgery as performance in Orlan's "The Reincarnation of Saint Orlan" (1990)
• Exploring sensory deprivation or alteration to create new perceptual experiences for performers and audience

Audience participation

• Breaking fourth wall to directly engage viewers in the performance
• Creating interactive installations requiring audience manipulation to complete the work
• Role reversal between performer and spectator in works like Marina Abramović's "Rhythm 0" (1974)
• Participatory performances addressing social issues like Suzanne Lacy's "Three Weeks in May" (1977)

Documentation and ephemerality

• Use of photography and video to capture fleeting performances
• Creating performance relics or artifacts as tangible remnants of ephemeral acts
• Exploring tension between live action and recorded documentation in works by Joan Jonas
• Conceptual performances existing solely as written instructions or scores (Fluxus event scores)

Notable performances

• Certain performances from this era have become iconic, influencing subsequent generations of artists
• These works often pushed boundaries of acceptability and challenged audience expectations
• Many notable performances involved elements of risk, endurance, or provocative subject matter

Marina Abramović's works

• "Rhythm 0" (1974) invited audience to use 72 objects on artist's body, testing limits of passivity
• "The Artist is Present" (2010) involved silent, prolonged eye contact with individual visitors
• Collaboration with Ulay in "Relation in Time" (1977) explored interpersonal dynamics and endurance
• "Balkan Baroque" (1997) addressed Yugoslavian conflict through ritualistic bone cleaning

Chris Burden's extreme acts

• "Shoot" (1971) involved artist being shot in arm by assistant, questioning violence in media
• "Trans-fixed" (1974) featured Burden crucified on Volkswagen Beetle
• "Doomed" (1975) saw artist lying under glass for 45 hours until intervention by museum staff
• "Through the Night Softly" (1973) involved crawling over broken glass on busy street

Carolee Schneemann's provocations

• "Interior Scroll" (1975) featured artist extracting and reading from scroll in vagina
• "Meat Joy" (1964) explored sensuality with performers interacting with raw meat and paint
• "Up to and Including Her Limits" (1973-76) created drawings while suspended from harness
• "Fuses" (1964-67) explicit film challenging pornographic gaze and celebrating female sexuality

Institutional recognition

• Performance art gradually gained acceptance in mainstream art world during this period
• Tension existed between desire for institutional support and maintaining avant-garde status
• Documentation and artifacts from performances began entering museum collections

Museums vs alternative spaces

• Emergence of artist-run spaces like Franklin Furnace (New York) and Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions
• Museums began commissioning and collecting performance works (MoMA's Projects series)
• Galleries adapted to showcase performance documentation and remnants
• Site-specific performances in public spaces challenged traditional exhibition models

Criticism and controversy

• Conservative backlash against provocative performances led to censorship debates
• NEA funding controversies in 1990s impacted support for experimental performance art
• Academic discourse around performance art expanded with new critical frameworks
• Media sensationalism often misrepresented nuanced artistic intentions

Legacy and influence

• Performance art of 1970s-80s laid groundwork for contemporary participatory and social practice art
• Many techniques and themes from this era continue to resonate in current artistic practices
• Increased recognition of performance art's historical importance in art curricula and institutions

Impact on contemporary art

• Relational aesthetics movement drew from earlier participatory performance strategies
• Expansion of durational performances in works by artists like Ragnar Kjartansson
• Influence on body-based practices in contemporary feminist and queer art
• Integration of performance elements in installation and multimedia works

Performance art in popular culture

• Lady Gaga's incorporation of performance art aesthetics in music videos and live shows
• Marina Abramović's collaborations with celebrities like Jay-Z and Lady Gaga
• Increased visibility of performance art through social media and online platforms
• Adaptation of performance art techniques in advertising and brand experiences

Technological developments

• Emerging technologies in 1970s-80s offered new possibilities for performance artists
• Integration of media and technology became increasingly common in performance works
• Artists explored relationships between body, machine, and virtual space

Video art integration

• Nam June Paik's pioneering use of television sets in performances and installations
• Live video feeds creating simultaneous or delayed representations of performances
• Video as both documentation tool and integral element of performances (Dan Graham)
• Exploration of surveillance themes through closed-circuit TV systems in performances

Early digital experiments

• Computer-generated performances and algorithmic choreography (Merce Cunningham)
• Telematic art connecting performers in different locations via early network technologies
• Experiments with interactive systems responding to performers' movements or sounds
• Early virtual reality explorations in works by artists like Char Davies

Geographic diversity

• Performance art developed distinct characteristics in different regions during this period
• Cross-cultural exchanges and international festivals fostered global dialogue among artists
• Non-Western performance traditions gained recognition in global art discourse

American vs European scenes

• New York's downtown scene fostered experimental performances in alternative spaces
• Vienna Actionists' confrontational body art contrasted with conceptual approaches elsewhere
• British performance art often addressed class issues and institutional critique
• Eastern European artists used performance to challenge political oppression

Non-Western performance art

• Japanese Gutai group's influence on material-based performances and happenings
• Latin American artists addressing political violence through performance (Hélio Oiticica)
• African performance art exploring postcolonial identity and traditional rituals
• Australian Aboriginal artists integrating performance with land art and storytelling traditions

Theoretical frameworks

• Performance art of this era both influenced and was shaped by emerging critical theories
• Interdisciplinary approaches to analyzing performance drew from various fields
• Artists often engaged directly with theoretical concepts in their work

Postmodernism and performance

• Rejection of grand narratives and embrace of pluralism in performance practices
• Appropriation and pastiche as strategies in works by artists like Cindy Sherman
• Blurring boundaries between high and low culture in performances
• Exploration of simulacra and hyperreality in media-based performances

Feminist and queer theory

• Judith Butler's concept of gender performativity influencing identity-based works
• Challenging essentialist notions of femininity in performances by Carolee Schneemann and others
• Queer theory informing works exploring non-normative sexualities and gender expressions
• Intersectional approaches addressing multiple forms of oppression in performance art

Documentation and preservation

• Ephemeral nature of performance art posed challenges for documentation and preservation
• Artists and institutions developed various strategies to record and archive performances
• Tension between live experience and mediated documentation remained a central issue

Photography and film records

• Use of still photography to capture key moments or sequences in performances
• 16mm film and later video recordings providing more comprehensive documentation
• Debates over whether photographic documentation could adequately represent live works
• Artists creating performances specifically for camera (Bruce Nauman's studio films)

Oral histories and archives

• Interviews with artists and witnesses preserving context and intentions of performances
• Development of specialized archives focusing on performance art documentation
• Re-performance projects aiming to keep historical works alive through new interpretations
• Challenges of preserving time-based media and technology-dependent performances