Exhibitions NYC | MOMA, Marina Abramovic | Performance Art or Performance?

Art exhibitions in New York City museum often present the spectacularity of Broadway theaters. There is no clear boundary between the artwork presented in the installation and exhibition design, as mainly verified in installation and video art. This is particularly evident in the exhibition currently on view at the MOMA, "The Artist is Present" a survey of the work of the performance artist Marina Abramovic

The exhibition combines a remake of "historical" installations by Abramovic and her former partner Ulay, with documentation of the "real performances" including several memorabilia.

The main piece is the museum second floor perfomance, where Abramovic sits still at a table for the all duration of the exhibit; visitors are invited to sit across the table from her.

Definitely a very spectacular exhibition, including the over 10-foot multi-channel projection screens or hundreds pound of recreated plastic bones. The performers recreating the performance have a perfect theathrical make-up and sets. Spectacularity which was missing from the original performances.

But....what is the meaning/sence of re-making performance art? It sounds like an oxymoron: the ephemerality and time-based which characterizes this type of art expression are lost, so is the impact with audience and the intent itself.

Performance art is not theater.

Art Fairs | NYC, Armory Week: Pulse

Art Fairs | NYC, Armory Week: the Armory

A few "location" shots, more to come. So far only "artifacts"...

Art Fairs | NYC, Armory Week: SCOPE

Camminando | Sun Farm and Snow

Winter in the Hudson Highlands on route to the Taconics.

Sunrise Trellis with no Sun

Framing the View and Switching Fields

UrbanScapes | NYC, Another Snowstorm

Another opportunity to appreciate the season quiet and monochromatic beauty...

Vernissages | NYC, William Kentridge at MoMA

A survey of three decades of William Kentridge's work and opened yesterday at MoMA. The spectacular exhibition presented large scale multichannel film and video installations.

The South African artist works in a multitude of media including film, collage performance, books, prints and sculpture. His most recognizable work is animated films from charcoal drawings, which present socio-political themes ---totalitarianism, apartheid and colonialism--- in poetic and lyrical interpretations .

The exhibition included Journey to the Moon and maquettes of the Kentridge's production of the Mozart's opera Magic Flute.

Vernissages NYC | Chelsea February 19 | Size Does Matter

Size Does Matter opened tonight at the Flag Foundation. Extremely crowded, probably the main attracting factor was the "unusual" curator, basketball star Shaquille O'Neall.