Performance ARt

Performance art, an interdisciplinary art practice can be spontaneous or scripted but meaningful nonetheless. Many different practices belong under this umbrella including: Happenings, Fluxus and Gutai. Most of the time the audience participates directly and indirectly. A form of protest against authority figures and institutions, many performing artists need to make a statement. Artists like David Hammons who approach “popular” culture with oppositional Black identity culture stir conversations that are critical in the art world and society. Richard Serra was at the height of his career in the 80’s with installations such as Titled Arc, St John’s Rotary Arc and the T.W.U. David Hammons, below, is pictured relieving himself on Serra’s T.W.U which ironically was at the same time of the 11 day Transit Union Workers strike. These iconic candids were recorder by non other than Dawoud Bey, an accomplished artist and photographer. Is this considered modern day trolling?

Dawoud Bey, David Hammons, Pissed Off , 1981, printed 2019