Epicenter Revolutions: Documenting the Sensorial Past

A Performance AS Duration Event by

Mycelium
Enok Ripley
Eish Van Wieren
Holly Timpener

On March 5, 2023, I organized a performance event for my PhD PaR project with Mycelium, Enok Ripley, and Eish Van Wieren. In this event, we examined how felt internal transformations triggered through durational actions could support transgender and non-binary identity, inform gender-diverse communities, and act as a form of resistance. Shortly after, the photo documentation of the actions was entirely lost in a flood. In the context of performance art, which is often described as ephemeral, visual documentation frequently serves as evidence that the actions took place. It (problematically) functions as a means of affirming existence.

As the HUMA recipient of the Elspeth McConnell Fine Arts Award, I have brought back the collective of the four artists to expand on our previous collaboration in an internship with VIVA! Art Action, led by its director Michelle Lacombe. Working together in this new project, we explore questions such as: What means or modes of documentation are effective for performance art? How and when can we document performances? Do witnesses alter or influence the nature of documentation? How does documentation create opportunities to reflect on, reconsider, or extend the performance?

The results of this research will be shared at a public event during which the artists will simultaneously present new individual long-duration performances, each created AS documentation of the original work from 2023. Shortly after, a publication will also be produced and circulated.

The public is invited to come anytime during the event and stay for as long as they like.

VIVA! recognizes the importance of self-organizing for artists in our community. As co-presenter of this event, we are proud to facilitate the presence of performance activities in our city, and increase our support towards local artists.