There are many mediums when it comes to art. Some artists prefer canvases, while there are those who would rather build grand installations to express an idea. There are also artists who prefer using their bodies as part of the artwork itself, creating an interactive experience for viewers.
Some of them even go through extremes just to make sure that their art is fully expressed. On this list, we’ll take a look at some of the performance art pieces around the world that deserve much credit, not just for their concept but for the risks the artists took in order to make it happen.
Rhythm O by Marina Abramović
Marina Abramović is a well-known performance artist whose work has tackled issues of relationships, femininity, as well as her upbringing in Serbia. Though some of her work has been controversial, no one can deny the impact and influence she has had on those lucky enough to experience her performances first-hand. In Rhythm O, however, she quite literally put her life at the hands of total strangers.
For this performance, she arranged objects in front of her, including items meant to hurt. In the beginning, everything was benign, but as the day progressed, the audience grew more violent. We’re sure insurance doesn’t cover this type of thing! While she was not physically hurt, this piece exposed something most of us tend to turn away from: the darker side of humanity.
Exposición No. 1 by Guillermo Vargas Jiménez
In a similar vein as Abramović’s work, this piece was meant to highlight human nature and its not-so-beautiful aspects. Featured in the exhibition is an emaciated living dog, with “You Are What You Read” written using dog food on the wall behind it. For his work, the artist received threats, especially after reports surfaced that the poor creature had starved and passed on as part of the entire performance piece. No lawyers were involved, fortunately.
The gallery also refuted these claims, saying that the dog had been fed regularly but managed to escape. Jiménez did speak up about the exhibit after some time, but only to point out the hypocrisy of those who cried foul. After all, the dog had been living in the streets and was completely neglected before he was placed in the gallery for people to see.
The Reincarnation of Saint Orlan by Orlan
Body modification isn’t an entirely uncommon process that some people choose to get for themselves. In the case of French artist Orlan, she went through a total of 9 different surgeries and made those investments to create art. Instead of doing it for beauty, she made use of her own body as a literal canvas, creating a piece meant to challenge our perception of what makes a body or a face beautiful.
In the end, she had copied the chin of Botticelli’s Venus, the lips of François Boucher’s Europa, the forehead of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the nose of Jean-Léon Gérôme’s Psyche, and the eyes of Diana. The surgeries were also broadcasted live, and Orlan was awake during the entire process, often shown listening to music or poetry.
In Search of the Miraculous by Bas Jan Ader
To his credit, artist Bas Jan Ader didn’t just create art; he also left his audience with an enduring mystery. One that has not been solved up until today. He had a highly successful career as an artist who did film, photography, and performance art installations. In 1975, however, he sought to cross the North Atlantic from Massachusetts in the USA to Falmouth in England as part of his piece In Search of the Miraculous. The journey would have taken him a little over two months, but the artist lost radio contact just after three weeks of his journey.
They found his empty boat some ten months later. He must have known about the degree of risk involved but still followed through. Until today, his disappearance is still unsolved.
Iron, Hide by Yang Zhichao
Most of us have an inherent fear of foreign objects somehow getting into our systems, but this is exactly what Yang Zhichao’s work focuses on. He highlights the relationship our bodies have to the world around us. In Iron, Hide, the artist is assisted by fellow artist Ai Weiwei as he undergoes a public operation wherein a metal object was permanently implanted into his leg.
This was followed by Planting Grass and Earth, where the natural objects were inserted into his body. In the end, the natural objects were rejected by his body, while the metal object remained in place with no further issue. It is extreme, so we hope he had insurance beforehand.
It’s amazing how far some people are willing to go for their art, right? As audiences, the most we can do is appreciate their work and try to gain a new perspective through them.
Sources:
Cover + Body 1- YouTube
Body 2- YouTube
Body 3- YouTube
Recent Comments