Performance Artists

Of the performance artists we viewed in class and those who I’ve seen outside of class, the ones that speak deepest and relate to me most are Banksy, Marina Abramovic, and Pjotr Pavlensky. Each of them have different ways of putting across their work and yet are still similar. Banksy, although being completely unrecognizable due to never showing his face, is a name that is known worldwide. He’s created a plethora of pieces that speak unto the stupidity of social norms, the corruption of governments, and what he believes is the idiocy of “buying art.” Pjotr Pavlensky has created a number of deep and highly effective performance arts by resisting against the government to create a stand against tyranny and corruption. Marina Abramovic being one of the forerunners and most well known names of performance art has created a world of her own with her pieces by not only showcasing what can be considered the death of ego, but also showing the way the human brain will react when given choices of inflicting pain and pleasure.

In each of their work technology does not always play an essential role. Sometimes technology could actually hinder their work but that depends on what type of technology you’re referring to. For Banksy technology is not a necessity but can amplify the message he has to send. A great example of such is one of his more recent performances in which a piece of art by him being sold in an auction immediately after being sold was shredded by the very frame that it was in. There was an obvious and strong message behind this saying “you’re stupid for buying art” which is a stance Banksy has stood behind for years. However in the case of Pjotr Pavlensky technology could easily hinder his message due to the fact that it is usually a straightforward point directed at a specific body.

There stands in the end the question of what will come from and what can be done with performance art and where it will go in the coming years but as it stands now performance art is always evolving and changing. As long as there is a message to be put across and a mind unique enough to create a method of expressing said message it will prosper. With the always growing world of technology performance art has not only the potential to spread far but also to influence others to use their voices to create and spread a message, because there is no such thing as someone who does not have a message to spread.