Performance Art: Use of the Body as Art

Introduction

• Presenter: Jackie Klein
• Series Focus: Examining performance art and how it is encountered in museum and non-museum settings.
• Key Questions:
  • Why are people dancing in a museum?
  • Why is audience interaction allowed?
  • What qualifies as art?

Historical Context

• Era Focus: 1950s and 60s
• Artists began exploring physical methods beyond traditional materials.

Examples of Physical Art

• Jackson Pollock: Moved on the canvas on the floor.
• Kazuyoshi Raga: Painted with feet.
• Niki de Saint Phalle: Used a paint-filled gun to shoot the canvas.
• Lucio Fontana: Used a knife to make marks on the canvas.

Transition to Body as Art

• Artists moved from creating paintings to performing movements.
• Autobahn and Canga: Use body movements to communicate and express power and voice.

Notable Artists

• Stewart Brisley:
  • Uses body in uncomfortable positions.
  • Prioritizes concept over personal comfort.
• Marina Abramovic:
  • Known for endurance art.
  • Emphasizes preparation, presence, and consciousness in performance.

Exploration of Identity

• Anna Mandieta:
  • Centralizes body in art to explore identity.
• Cindy Sherman and Samuel Faso:
  • Use self-portraits to explore societal stereotypes and identity formation.

Conclusion

• Bodies serve as subject matter, material, and medium for art.
• Performance art blurs lines between art creation and existence.
• Next Episode Preview: Focus on artworks involving audience interaction.