My performance is focused on words being said or written however, I could’ve also looked at the topic in a much more symbolic way. The artists I have been focusing on are Karen Finley and David Cale and their story-like monologue performances where they just stand and speak. However, that doesn’t mean to say that this topic couldn’t be performed in a symbolic or more ‘artistic’ way. In Karen Finley’s ‘Shut up and Love me’ (2004) she covered herself in honey whilst discussing female sexuality and the need for connection during intimacy. A very serious subject and a very fun and outrageous thought of covering yourself in honey but a very striking image.
My performance is not about sexuality or feminism or any such popular argument within the media but instead about a mental illness, yes talked about a bit in the media but not really ever performed on the stage. It, like Finley’s work, is a very taboo subject. Even on a day to day occasion people are still nervous about talking about it or bringing it up around someone who may be suffering from the illness. Therefore, I wanted to perform something that is often hinted at but never fully presented on a stage.
Looking into other ways I could’ve performed it (and these other ways do look more fun) I discovered a variety of inspirations and ideas that I could have done.
Obviously the first inspiration is Yoko Ono’s ‘Cut Piece’ (1964) where people are invited to cut pieces of Ono’s clothing up whilst they are still on her body. This piece is very hard to watch as it captures the idea that a woman is just an object of the man’s imagination and desire, being owned by a man and being controlled by him also (Baring in mind this was a feminist performance of the early 60’s). “The viewer was implicated in the potentially aggressive act of unveiling the female body” (Phaidon)
I also saw this performance by Mia Hudson and imagined my own performance being performed in a straightjacket or being tied up like a puppet. Representing entrapment or the idea that this is a mental problem, an illness of the mind. The visuals for the video are interesting with the room appearing dusty with the performer appearing trapped, restricted, and confused. When watching it I felt a sense of destruction like I was in someone’s mind and this is what they were feeling. There seemed to be a lot of focus with the performer when unwrapping the rope from around her being slow and careful, removing it with a sort of grace and elegance that you maybe wouldn’t expect from looking at the performance space. The video for me created a sense of anxiety, depression, and frustration whilst also having that hint of hope, freedom and self-help that the untying of the rope and moving of the white cloth gives us.
And finally, similar to that of Finley’s ‘Shut up and Love me’ is Marina Abramovic. I am unsure as to the name of this performance however, I felt I had to include it as it interested me visually. The video only shows clips of the performance at the beginning with Abramovic sprinkling glitter over her naked body. Visually this appeals to be just like the Honey image of Finley’s work. There is a simplicity within the piece that makes it so appealing to watch. I like this ‘artistic’ way of performance. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn8SskoCnG0
Works Cited:
Phaidon (Unknown Date) Yoko Ono’s Cut Piece Explained. Available from: http://uk.phaidon.com/agenda/art/articles/2015/may/18/yoko-ono-s-cut-piece-explained/ [Accessed on 26 April 2016]