On our
class trip to the Whitney Museum, we were to focus primarily on the “Rituals of
Rented Island” exhibit which centered on ephemera (like photographs, video
footage, props, etc.) from “happenings” or performance art pieces performed
during the 1970s and 1980s. Artist’s creating within this temporal art form were
most prolific at this time, incorporating different traditions such as acting,
music, spoken word, and dance. These “happenings” would mostly take place in
dingy lofts, and alternative spaces; their work generally commenting on the social,
political, and cultural zeitgeist of that time.
One piece
in particular, Michael Smith’s “Secret Horror”, seemed to be
Squat
Theater’s “Andy Warhol’s Last Love” is a video in which a performer wearing a
mask of famous pop artist Andy Warhol rides the street of New York City on
horseback. This peculiar scene would seem to criticize much of America’s
actions during the 1960’s Vietnam War. As the actor gallops through the streets,
a girl raises her skirt for him, a man is shot, and a man with half of his face
burned passes on the street. However, the artist just rides pass, unaffected by
the turmoil unraveling before him—this disregard possibly paralleling the
indifference of those in power to the masses affected by the war at home and
overseas.
The ephemeral quality of
this temporal art form is an obvious distinction from other kinds. Although the
work is mainly conceptual which is something yet to be diluted even with time,
the visceral nature of the performance
aspect is stripped from the piece. The living/breathing trait which defines performance
art is completely lost when shown in the showcase style of the gallery. While I
could still be somewhat affected by the pieces and grasp some vague
understanding, what I ended up experiencing were but vestiges of the intended
aesthetic of the artist.
Michael Smith
“Secret Horror”
Video, color, sound; 13:17 min.
1980
Vito Acconci
“Claim Excerpts, 1971”
Videotape, b&w, sound; 62:11 min.
1971
Squat Theater
“Andy Warhol’s Last Love”
Video, b&w and color, sound; 60 min.
1978
