Instruction Poems:
Follow Piece:
Find a quiet road
Sit at the edge of the road
Blink
Get up and walk either way until there is not road to follow
Word Piece:
Write a random word on a piece of paper
Erase it
Write a meaningful word
Put it in it your pocket
Flower Piece:
Find a flower
Admire it
Take a picture of it
Water it
Primitive Games:
The performance, "Primitive Games" by Shaun Leonardo tackles the topic of debate without words and only through body language. Before the showcase at the Guggenheim, Leonardo took these 4 groups of people (military veterans, police officers, citizens impacted by street violence and lastly recreational users of firearms) to several workshops over 3 months where they were taught to express thoughts and feeling through movement. The report finding comes from the participants, audience, staff, and artist. The Guggenheim's evaluation report for "Primitive Games" collected data, surveys, as well as firsthand comments from the artist, participants, audience, and staff.
Finding+Whom:
- Responses to the survey questions revealed more clearly that some of the audience “understood” larger messages in the work. They commented “that some things could be expressed without words” and how “this type of debate should happen more often and with different demographics.” (From Audience)
- Performance or even debates without words is an interesting concept, and definitely something worth exploring more. I think it helps to better see people as people.
- “I would like to see us remain committed and not just dip in and out [of Social Practice Art projects]—the Guggenheim should now be looking for the next project. They should continue this work.”
- It is very important for art especially art that is seen as activism to be consistent and not 'performative' (in the sense of pretending to care about certain topics for the sake of saying relevant and treading). Especially large and influential institutions like the Guggenheim, it is important for them to continue to give space for this type of activism.
Finding/Artist:
“If I can teach this as a model what will be needed is for
all of us to slow down and look into each other’s stories
more closely. That forces the pace and rhythm of our
‘headline culture’ where one sentence leads to exclusion
and separation. That is the most necessary component of
this model—to slow down.”
Finding/Participants:
“At the Symposium, when asked
by the artist “How did the workshop influence your experience
of the performance?” replies included more about not jumping
to conclusions and zeroing in on body language, for example:
“Not to judge people for whatever they bring in front of me.
Take time to understand their struggle” and “Words are just
words. Movement and body tell a whole lot more.”
Finding/Audience:
“In explaining why the performance didn’t cause them to
reconsider their thoughts about non-verbal communication, a
common theme was lack of understanding what was going on”
Finding/Staff:
“I saw a broader expansion of the way museums can
engage with very topical, socially/politically engaged
issues, and that you can create a space—a safe space—
provide a platform for discussion and dialogue around
these issues in ways that are more dynamic than an
exhibition of still objects and ideas.”
Audience Experience Reflection:
What questions, if any, did
viewing the performance raise
for you?
Color plays a big part in emotions so if my question was would it work in another color other than white. I think the color white was an intentional choice and gave everything this neutral lens but what would happen if the whole space was red, or neon yellow?
What thoughts and/or ideas
came to mind as you viewed
this performance?
My only thought as I watched was of a chess game. Specifically made me think of "Chess Piece" from Yoko Ono. All her chess pieces being the color white resembling the participants in all white. I also thought about how I would feel doing this and felt very uncomfortable.
No comments:
Post a Comment