What is Performance Art?

These are some of the notes i have taken in exploring the idea of performance art.

It seems that artists have turned to performance as a way of breaking down categories and indicating new directions. It appears that performance was used as a way of bringing to life many of the conceptual ideas on which the making of art is based. Instead of concentrating on the physical act of producing art it seems that the artists wanted to and attempted to resolve problematic issues in performance.

It has been used as an expression of dissidents to try and explore other ways to evaluate art experience in everyday life.

Performance can appeal to a large public as well as shocking the viewer into reassessing their own notions of art and its relation to culture.

Goldberg states that 'the work may be presented solo or with a group, with lighting, music or visuals made by the performance artist him or herself or in collaboration, and performed in places ranging from an art gallery or museum or an 'alternative space' a theatre, cafe bar, or street corner. Unlike theatre the performer is the artist seldom a character like an actor, and the content rarely follows a traditional plot or narrative. The performance might be a series of intimate gestures or large-scale visual theatre, lasting from a few minutes to many hours: it might be performed only once or repeated several times, with or without a prepared script, spontaneously improvised, or rehearsed over many months.'

Performance art appears to be an open ended medium which has endless variables, it is an art form which is directed straight to the viewer. It seems to be difficult to define as it can call on a number of disciplines and media for material, (poetry, film, dance, video, narrative, music, theatre etc can be used in any combination). It seems to have no boundaries as each performancer has their own view in the making, reflecting and showing of their ideas.