Neue Galerie Graz, Graz, Austria
19 November 2008 at 8:00 p.m.
duration: 7′ 30”
conception: MP_art
curator: Günther Holler-Schuster
acknowledgement
Dr. Christa Steinle –director of the Neue Galerie Graz
Mag. Gunther Holler-Schuster – deputy director and curator of the exhibition
Niki Lackner – photos
Klemenz Maier – chief of technical staff
Kasimir Werschitz –technical staff
Slobodan Kuzmanovic – sound
The performance was a part of the project ‘SHAME’, realized in Neue Galerie Graz, Graz, Austria. The project realized in Austria called ‘MP_pro_o2 SCHAM_A’ contained exhibition, performance, video, video interviews and sound installation.
M & P stood in the completely dark ‘mirror room’ of the Neue Galerie Graz. They were tied with a strong rope to the pillar. They were also blindfold. The performance began when the visitors enter the room and when the video projection started. The video projection, with loud and tense sound, presented static words ‘shame’ on the bodies of M and P. Between each alternate image was a break of 10 seconds [without images but with sound]. When the video projection began, M and P started to liberate their bodies from the rope. Until the end of the performance, when the video tape ended and the light came on. They hadn’t free themselves from the rope… They were tied to the pillar until the last visitor exit the room.
The performance symbolically presented some of the ‘shame words’ which are common feelings of shame felt by M and P. These words are allegorical expression [together with a red carpet on the pillar base] of the shame for the people in world politics and people who are responsible for all our lives [with planetary problems such as wars, economy, global warming, etc]. Some of the words are also very personal expression of a shame.
