When I first knew I was doing this module, I was quite unsure what to expect. The words contemporary experimental performance came to me as something that grasped on key words such as development, no boundaries, originality concepts messages, presentation, style and interaction. I had very little knowledge about this side of performing art, and that boundaries and limitations? Well there was not any. I felt in a way contemporary experimental performance was a way of intertextualising cultures and other art forms into one performance. Something that would inspire and emotionally affect an audience through the use of sounds, visuals and maybe even through breaking that boundary of touch to create a more realistic connection with performer and viewer/audience.
Watching Marina Abramović: The Artist is Present gave me a real look into the deep layers of what contemporary experimental performance is about. Watching her performance of gazing into the eyes of her audience enabled me to think that maybe these performances are a work of art, but art in a different form as just a piece of work on the wall, but as something that connects us all as human beings. I felt her work especially within The Artist is Present , in a way she transforms us and helps us look into our inner core to stop and think, which predominantly makes us think we are exposing our inner most fears and sharing a direct link with Marina. The performance itself was a very emotive piece, and affected people deeply, Marina herself as stated that she was struck with how many people appeared to be hurting on the inside.
On a personal level, I feel Marina creates a psychological atmosphere especially within The Artist is Present. She brings about audience association and connections that we all can relate to as human beings. Which I believe is the very root to her art.
Witten by Jordan Tallis, Edited By Leanne McKettrick
