How do you feel about performing for the camera? Would the final piece be considered video art? or film? or would it still be a performance? Vito Acconci is one of the pioneers in performing for the camera; he questions the relationship between the observer and the piece, making use of that space between the artwork and the viewer, using the camera to create an intimacy that can produce different reactions in the viewer. This is one of my favorite pieces, 'Theme song' (1973) - Click on the image to see an excerpt of the piece-
Would you consider working like this? what do you think about this piece?
another artist who asks some of these questions is bas jan ader - some of his work can be seen at http://www.ubu.com/film/ader_selected.html
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ReplyDeleteI love this piece, I think I would enjoy working this way.. there are a lot of decisions to make about how to view it that really gives the artist more power over the audience. How large? Projected or screen? Does the audio come through headphones or speakers?
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't consider this only video art, I see vito as a performer for the camera, and I also see the camera acting as a performer.. the whole experience of this dialogue is very specific because of where we, the audience, are in comparison to Vito.
Love Vito Acconci! I don't know if I could personally work in his manner, but he is brilliant in both the performance and video spectrum. Although this piece would certainly be different, for instance if we were an audience in blindfolds, but he used his medium to his advantage, just as someone performing live would have to do too. I don't think it is possible with Vito and many other artists to categorize one method of practice.
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