Performance & Remnant

About

Performance art has long been seen as an anti-market, underground form, with origins born out of rebellion and an attempt to deliberately disrupt the commercialisation of creativity. With its beginnings in the avant-garde artistic movements of Futurism and Dada, the form had gained mainstream attention by the 1960’s in the wake of Abstract Expressionism and through the practice of artists such as Allan Kaprow, Chris Burden and the Happenings in New York.

‘Performance & Remnant’ will look at the role of performance art today; it will examine the tension between the innately ephemeral form of the performative act and the tangible and saleable object that is produced. 

The exhibition will show a range of artists and media, from the acclaimed American poet and performance artist, John Giorno, who was a major figure in the underground art scene of New York City in the 1960’s and in the Beat Generation, to the energetic contemporary artist Rashaad Newsome, who will present new collage pieces considering the design formula of Heraldry, ornament and 'voguing' performance - the art form popular in the 1980's that has recently seen a revival in popular and celebrity culture (incorporated into performances by the singer FKA Twigs and attracting cult figures such as Rihanna and Balmain Creative Director, Olivier Rousteing).

Displayed across two floors of the Bond Street gallery, the exhibition will also include painting, sculpture, photography and video by Andy Goldsworthy, Shen Wei, Ori Gersht, Justin Davis Anderson, Jo Broughton, Geraldine Swayne and Michael Petry, who will fire 54 arrows into the wall of the 140-year gallery in a celebration of the Greek god of love, Eros.