Our performance is installation, based on the collaboration of the audience and the artist. Both participant and performer use the space using a range of materials, audio, visual and live elements in which they are able to experiment with. It is important to have a relationship with your audience because it can reflect the way in which they understand the process of the performance and whether the performance stays with them or whether they do not wish/feel comfortable to participate at all. It shows a range of flexibility and diversity within participants of all ages and moods and effectively proves the way in which they ‘perform’.
Manipulation of the the senses have been interesting in our discovery within our rehearsal process, looking at how a person reacts in an environment which challenges the mood that they are in, allowing them to express that mood. Erika Fischer-Lichte in her chapter shared bodies, shared spaces: the bodily co-presence of actors and spectators says: “The actors act, that is, they move through the space, gesture, change their expression, manipulate objects, speak, or sing. The Spectators perceive their actions and respond to them. Although some of these reactions might be limited to internal processes their perceptible responses are equally significant: the spectators laugh, cheer, sigh, groan, sob, cry, scuff their feet or hold their breath:” (2008, p., 38).
The performance aim is to see how the spectators mood will affect the way in which they look at something, how they react in an uncomfortable situation or how they choose to use an object. “performance remains unpredictable and spontaneous to a certain degree” (Fisher-Lichte 2008, p., 38). This hopefully, becomes the core element within our installation piece, it should be unpredictable in the way the participants mood reflects they way they perform and ‘spontaneous’ in the outcome of their performance.
Therefore Marina Abramović’s quote “Its not just about you, its about others” (2013) demonstrates that the audiences reactions within the installation piece will make up the end performance. The installation should become an environment which his inflicted the senses and changed the way in which they/we will feel for the rest of the day.
Works Cited:
Fisher-Licte, E. 2008 The Transformative Power of Performance London: Routledge
Abramović, M. 2013 Availible at: http://www.marinaabramovicinstitute.org/noqt Accessed on April 21 2013.