In The Window Placement - Performance Preparation
Having decided to delay the performances as part of the Thread Bare exhibition, I had time to prepare everything I needed as well as consider how best to document the work, time to collect or create promotional material and to write a statement about the work to be posted online. I spent the two days after the installation reflecting on the day and thinking about the proposed performances. I knew what I wanted to perform but had to plan each aspect. As the first performance would be happening this week, I prioritised it ready for the upcoming date and will work on the material needed for the second performance once finished.
The first thing I needed was a title, inspired by the use of the term threadbare which I used for the exhibition, I decided to work with the word bare. This was particularly pertinent as the performance would involve baring my face. I thought of the term barefaced and altered it slightly resulting in calling the intended performance Bared Face.
For the performance, I will be repeatedly applying and removing make-up until my skin is raw and my eyes are sore. All I need in order to perform this is my standard make-up and a set of make-up wipes which will be added to the pile of wipes on the floor of the current installation. The only thing I had not planned was what I would wear, I realised that this could impact the context of the work so took time to consider it carefully. As the work is intended as an exploration of the intersection between performance art, theatrical performance and performances of everyday life, I thought it would be interesting to wear a stage costume from my work wardrobe. Meaning I would be wearing a theatrical costume to perform in an art space to the general public as the window faces a city centre street. The make-up wipes used in the pieces installed in the exhibition are from previous stage performances and so the performance in this clothing with the make-up will tie into that as well. As the colour palette of Thread Bare is quite muted and there are a lot of flesh tones with some darker tones and lighter pinks, I will choose a costume that will match that. I had also considered wearing a set of overalls in beige or tan to match the muted tones and colours but will save that for the second performance.
Once I had a title and a plan for the performance, I made some notes about how best to document it. I bought a tripod to be used for a camera inside the space and have organised for my partner to join me on the day and film from the street with a second camera. The footage will then be edited together and posted on the AirSpace website and YouTube.
Then, I made a list of ideas for poster images. This included images of past performances and artwork that could be relevant, photos of make-up wipes used in the space, photos from the exhibition and some photographs of myself removing make-up which I staged and photographed in the studio. Finally, I wrote a statement for the work using the Thread Bare work statement as a rough template, though this is shorter. I sent all of that over to Glen at AirSpace via email and made sure to ask what he thought. He was happy with the suggested title, said the work statement was great and chose the image I had taken in the studio which I had created specifically for this performance. I was relieved as that was also my personal preference, although I was open to taking direction and feedback from Glen if he thought otherwise. I will now begin working on the material needed for the following week's performance.
Work Statement: Bared Face is an experimental durational performance in which the artist will apply and remove make-up to explore the actions of masking and unmasking. Taking place in and alongside the Thread Bare installation #InTheWindow at AirSpace Gallery, this performance seeks to explore the relationship between performance art, theatrical performance and the performances of our everyday lives. With an art space acting as a stage viewed from a city centre street, Bared Face will act as an intersection of the three performance types and their corresponding spaces. Furthermore, this performance hopes to investigate, critique and provoke discussion about gender performativity, gender expectations and the use of masking and make-up for both empowerment and disempowerment.
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