I have always looked at performance art as totally random and abstract, impossible to understand, and definitely does not connect with an audience. This reading has challenged my thinking. I am not an art major, nor do I consider myself the creative type, so this class has been a challenging, but learning experience. Somethings I took away from the researching performace art readings and video:
Performance is live, in the here and now.
The energy and atmosphere of the present moment seems to be an indespensible character in performance art. Its the life blood.
It seems to be such a rebeliious act even within the rebellion tht exists in art and artists already.
Tapping into emotions, good or bad, is the power of it. Some performance art seems to bring out the artist and art within the person that exists inherently.
There is something so raw, unguarded, stripped down about performace art.
I think similiar to all art, performace art popularity seems to ebb and flow. I like to think it comes and goes depending on how much or little society needs its expression. Art often asks the hard questions, society doesn’t know how to process or deal with and finds a creative outlet for it.
It’s a living form of art.
How many people lik to escape themselves or others on a regular basis?Crossbreeding of art, free to artist and audience to interpret and play with.
Even if it doesn’t take place in a confined art space-which its the point to not-the public still reaches out and is receptive to it.
Each performer makes his or her own definition of performance in the very manner and process of execution, so that each work becomes an entirely unexpected combination of events.
Intense collaboration, crossbreeding of art and artists from different disciplines and backgrounds. insisting instead that art is primarily a matter of ideas and actions.
Each performance calls on the audience to experience the making of an artwork rather than contemplating static objects within an exhibition framework.
Essentially : what can you do with pure energy?
This reading really made me question my preconceived notions about performance art and really comtemporary art in general. I have a new appreciation for it and understanding. Half od me thinks that Marina Abramovic is crazy and other half makes me think she may be completely sane and others are the crazy ones. I think she demonstrates whats important and appealing about performance art: raw emotion, raw energy, being present, sharing life experiences and emotions, relegating all of your time and energy into the moment, here, now, with the people around you. I think Marina as an artist is using performance art for her own therapy but also sees this need to connect and be vulnerable in that place. She wants her audience to do this so much that she has offered her own body and mind as a means in which to accompolish it for others. Very Interesting.