9.2 Performance art and theater

Performance art challenges traditional artistic boundaries, blending various disciplines to create immediate, visceral experiences. Emerging in the mid-20th century, it emphasizes the artist's body, actions, and audience interaction over finished products, often addressing social and political issues.

Key elements include using the body as a medium, manipulating time and space, and encouraging audience participation. Unlike traditional theater, performance art rejects scripted narratives, focusing on authenticity and real-time actions, often in unconventional spaces.

Origins of performance art

• Performance art emerged as a distinct artistic practice in the mid-20th century, challenging traditional art forms and blurring boundaries between disciplines
• Rooted in experimentation and avant-garde thinking, performance art sought to create immediate, visceral experiences for audiences
• This art form emphasized the process of creation over the final product, often incorporating elements of chance and improvisation

Influences from avant-garde movements

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• Futurism introduced dynamic, provocative performances celebrating technology and speed
• Dadaism contributed absurdist elements and a rejection of conventional artistic values
• Surrealism inspired dream-like, irrational performances exploring the subconscious
• Happenings of the 1950s and 1960s brought art into everyday spaces, involving audience participation

Early performance artists

• John Cage's 4'33" (1952) challenged notions of music and silence, influencing future performance artists
• Yves Klein's Anthropometries series (1960) used human bodies as living paintbrushes
• Allan Kaprow organized the first "Happenings," blending art and life in participatory events
• Carolee Schneemann's Meat Joy (1964) explored sensuality and the body through raw materials

Key elements of performance art

• Performance art prioritizes the artist's body and actions as the primary medium of expression
• Emphasizes the present moment and the ephemeral nature of live experiences
• Challenges traditional notions of art by often leaving no lasting physical object

Body as medium

• Artists use their bodies as both the subject and object of the artwork
• Physical endurance and limits of the body often explored (Marina Abramović's Rhythm 0)
• Body modification and transformation employed to convey concepts (Orlan's surgical performances)
• Gestures, movements, and physical presence become the artwork itself

Time and space

• Performances often have a specific duration, from minutes to days or even years
• Site-specific works engage with particular locations or environments
• Manipulation of time through repetition, slowness, or duration (Tehching Hsieh's One Year Performance)
• Creation of immersive environments that alter audience's perception of space

Audience interaction

• Blurring lines between performer and spectator, often inviting direct participation
• Confrontational or intimate encounters between artist and audience members
• Unpredictable outcomes based on audience reactions and involvement
• Challenging passive viewership by creating active, engaged experiences

Performance art vs traditional theater

• Performance art often rejects narrative structures and character portrayal found in traditional theater
• Emphasis on authenticity and real-time actions rather than rehearsed, scripted performances
• Blurs boundaries between art and life, often taking place outside conventional theater spaces

Breaking fourth wall

• Directly addressing or involving the audience, eliminating the invisible barrier
• Creating a shared space where performers and audience coexist
• Using techniques like improvisation and audience participation to create unique experiences
• Challenging the notion of passive spectatorship (Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed)

Emphasis on process

• Focusing on the act of creation rather than a polished final product
• Incorporating elements of chance, risk, and unpredictability
• Revealing the artist's thought process and decision-making in real-time
• Valuing experimentation and exploration over rehearsed perfection

Experimental theater techniques

• Experimental theater pushes boundaries of conventional performance, often overlapping with performance art
• Explores new forms of storytelling, audience engagement, and spatial relationships
• Challenges traditional notions of narrative, character, and theatrical space

Immersive theater

• Audience members physically enter and move through the performance space
• Multiple storylines or scenes may occur simultaneously, allowing for individual experiences
• Sensory engagement beyond sight and sound (touch, smell, taste)
• Productions like Sleep No More by Punchdrunk blur lines between theater and installation art

Site-specific performances

• Created for and performed in non-traditional theater spaces (abandoned buildings, parks, streets)
• Incorporates the unique characteristics and history of the chosen location
• Challenges audience expectations of where art can occur
• Examples include En Garde Arts productions in New York City and Deborah Warner's The Angel Project

Interdisciplinary approaches

• Performance art often combines elements from various artistic disciplines
• Breaks down traditional boundaries between different forms of expression
• Creates hybrid experiences that engage multiple senses and perspectives

Incorporation of multimedia

• Use of video projections to create dynamic visual environments or virtual performers
• Integration of sound art and experimental music in performances
• Live streaming and internet-based performances connecting remote audiences
• Incorporation of digital technologies (motion capture, interactive sensors) to enhance or mediate performances

Fusion with visual arts

• Performance painting combines live art creation with physical performance (Ushio Shinohara's boxing paintings)
• Sculptural elements used as props or wearable art in performances
• Creation of installations that serve as both performance spaces and standalone artworks
• Integration of body art and temporary modifications (tattoos, body painting) as part of the performance

Themes in performance art

• Performance art often addresses contemporary social, political, and cultural issues
• Explores personal and collective identities, challenging societal norms and expectations
• Uses the immediacy of live performance to provoke thought and emotional responses

Identity and representation

• Exploration of gender roles and sexuality (Cindy Sherman's photographic performances)
• Addressing racial and ethnic identities through embodied experiences (Guillermo Gómez-Peña's border-crossing performances)
• Challenging societal norms and stereotypes through subversive acts
• Personal narratives and autobiographical elements incorporated into performances

Social and political commentary

• Critiquing power structures and systems of oppression through provocative actions
• Addressing environmental concerns and ecological issues (Joseph Beuys' 7000 Oaks)
• Exploring themes of war, violence, and conflict (Chris Burden's Shoot)
• Using the body as a site of protest and resistance (Pussy Riot's guerrilla performances)

Documentation and preservation

• Performance art's ephemeral nature presents unique challenges for documentation and preservation
• Balancing the desire to record performances with maintaining their live, unrepeatable essence
• Exploring new methods of archiving and sharing performance art experiences

Challenges of ephemeral art

• Capturing the energy and immediacy of live performances in documentation
• Preserving context and audience reactions alongside the performance itself
• Addressing issues of authenticity when re-performing historical works
• Balancing artist intentions with the need for documentation (Tino Sehgal's refusal to document his works)

Role of photography and video

• Photographic documentation as both record and artistic interpretation of performances
• Video recordings allowing for wider dissemination and study of performance works
• Exploring the tension between live experience and mediated documentation
• Creation of performance works specifically for camera (early video art by Nam June Paik)

Notable performance artists

• Performance artists who have significantly influenced the development and perception of the medium
• Individuals whose work has challenged artistic conventions and societal norms
• Artists who have achieved recognition beyond the art world, impacting popular culture

Marina Abramović

• Pioneer of performance art, known for pushing physical and mental limits
• Rhythm series explored the relationship between performer and audience
• The Artist is Present (2010) involved silent, prolonged eye contact with visitors
• Established the Marina Abramović Institute to preserve and promote long-duration works

Yoko Ono

• Conceptual and performance artist associated with the Fluxus movement
• Cut Piece (1964) invited audience members to cut away her clothing
• Bed-In for Peace (1969) with John Lennon used media attention for anti-war protest
• Combines performance with instruction-based art and audience participation

Performance art in public spaces

• Taking art out of traditional galleries and theaters into everyday environments
• Challenging the boundaries between art and life, often engaging unsuspecting audiences
• Using public spaces to address social and political issues directly

Street performances

• Spontaneous or planned actions in urban environments (Ben Wilson's chewing gum art)
• Flash mobs as a form of collaborative, temporary performance
• Busking and street theater traditions influencing performance art practices
• Using public spaces to reach diverse audiences and challenge notions of art accessibility

Guerrilla theater

• Surprise performances in public spaces addressing political or social issues
• San Francisco Mime Troupe's politically charged outdoor performances
• The Living Theatre's Paradise Now taking radical theater to the streets
• Using humor, shock, and surprise to engage audiences and provoke thought

Audience as participants

• Shifting the role of the audience from passive observers to active collaborators
• Challenging traditional notions of authorship and artistic control
• Creating unique, unrepeatable experiences through audience involvement

Interactive performances

• Audiences directly influencing the course or outcome of the performance
• Marina Abramović's Rhythm 0 (1974) inviting audience to use objects on her body
• Blast Theory's interactive theater works combining live action and digital technology
• Exploring the ethics and boundaries of audience participation in art

Participatory art events

• Large-scale events requiring mass participation (Spencer Tunick's nude installations)
• Relational aesthetics creating social experiences as art (Rirkrit Tiravanija's communal cooking performances)
• Social practice art engaging communities in collaborative creative processes
• Blurring distinctions between artist, audience, and artwork through collective action

Cultural impact of performance art

• Performance art's influence extending beyond the art world into mainstream culture
• Challenging societal norms and provoking public discourse on various issues
• Reshaping perceptions of what constitutes art and artistic expression

Influence on popular culture

• Performance art techniques adopted in music videos and live concerts
• Influence on fashion and body art practices (Lady Gaga's meat dress)
• Integration of performance art elements in advertising and marketing campaigns
• Popularization of immersive experiences and participatory events in entertainment

Controversies and censorship

• Provocative performances leading to public outrage and legal challenges
• Chris Burden's dangerous performances (Shoot, Trans-fixed) questioning artistic limits
• Censorship of performances addressing political or sexual themes
• Debates over public funding for controversial performance art (NEA Four controversy)

Contemporary trends

• Evolution of performance art in response to technological advancements and global changes
• Exploration of new mediums and platforms for creating and sharing performances
• Addressing contemporary issues through innovative performance practices

Digital performance art

• Live-streamed performances reaching global audiences (Marina Abramović's The Artist Is Present 2.0)
• Social media platforms as sites for ongoing performative works
• Blockchain technology and NFTs creating new ways to authenticate and sell performance art
• AI and machine learning incorporated into interactive performance experiences

Virtual and augmented reality

• Creation of immersive virtual environments for performance art experiences
• Augmented reality performances blending digital elements with physical spaces
• Exploring embodiment and presence in virtual performance contexts
• VR as a tool for preserving and recreating historical performance works