Friends
in Ústí nad Labem
Welcome to the documentation text of my short performative intervention, FRIENDS. This intimate and introspective performance took place during A-I-R MeetFactory open studio on tour at Galerie Hraničář in Ústí nad Labem in the Czech Republic.
This performance was inspired by the quote:"You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes." This quote, from A.A. Milne's beloved Winnie-the-Pooh, is a reflection on the struggles of returning to normal life after World War I, and contains many musings on life itself.
During the performance, the audience of an artist talk was invited to stand in the exact space previously occupied by other artists who explained their artistic practices. I introduced myself briefly and explained that I was more interested in using the present moment of being together in the space for a short performative intervention. The audience was then asked to close their eyes or look down to concentrate on themselves. After a minute, several questions were posed about the audience's first best friend, when they last saw them, if they ever lost a good friend, and if they missed their best friend. The intervention ended with asking for tips from the visitors on how to make new friends.
Overall, FRIENDS aimed to create a reflective and introspective experience for the audience, exploring themes of friendship and social connection. By using the space and the audience's own memories, I created a unique and meaningful performance that encouraged the audience to think deeply about their own relationships and the importance of human connection and because of the intense participation there are no documentation photos made.
Disclaimer: This
work was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union.
The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the
official opinion of the European Union.
