April 15, 2007

Matthew Barney Studio

This performance was part of an event curated by Matthew Barney at his studio in Queens. The concept was action into for, or physical works that were spun from performance. Matthew did a rehearsal of a piece, an opera, that he later performed in Manchester, England. He also invited Jonathon Meese a german artist and myself to make unique works for the day. I performed Live Life.

Live Life was inspired by a variety of things including the death of my mother. It took of from earlier works of mine and from the sense of performance as ritual. It began with a greek chorus singing the script or score of what would unfold. The chorus was a classical chorus in that they described my every move just before I made it. They were the dna of the my action. THey described my slow transformation to wearing the feet o my hands and feet with the actions in-between.: drawing with chalk on the floor, forming structures, lighting them on fire., and so on. One of the important moments of the performance was when I sang “You’ll have time” by Ben Folds.

Live Life, Like you’re gonna die, cause you're gonna. I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you’re gonna die. Maybe not today or next year, but before you know it you’ll be saying: was this all there was? what was all the fuss? Why did I bother?...

you can view the performance here.