Performance Art Concept Brief Analysis

Performance Art Concept Analysis

Concept

My performance art concept begins with step one: I and a few volunteers will go around campus throughout the week, or depending on how much time we need, wearing “Hello my name is... name tags” and introducing ourselves to people and asking if we can take a picture of them with a polaroid camera. Obviously, we will explain what it is for. After it is developed the person will be asked to write a statement [anecdote, fact, fear, thought, etc] on it, making it personal so someone remembers them. Finally, we will ask them to put on a name tag as well to unite all the participants.

The second step is that the following weekend for one day, two if necessary, I will set up a large board or wall on which everybody and anybody will be able to help put up all the pictures to create a giant “Hello my name is...” name tag. This project matters to me because as I walk around campus I see dozens or hundreds of people I’ve never seen and probably will never know, and yet, it is so simple to get to know them if you just approach them. This project will prove that and bring all those strangers together, creating a sense of community.

Form

The performance art context of this project is the second step when the art is actually created by both myself and everybody who passes by and participates.

Context

The social impact of this performance art project is that people who would never acknowledge each other as they’re walking will be brought together and will learn from the statements on the wall. Hopefully, this will make people more confident to approach people and find commonalities.

The political statement that I am trying to make with this project is though the government and America in general tries to make us all feel separated by labeling all of us, we can remove them and become one united group.

The cultural impact of this project is that although we all come from different cultures, our real culture is created when we come together and combine our backgrounds.

The physical aspect of this project is the final product, a bold wall of strangers that you cannot ignore when passing by; the visual reminder that we are all one and we can always learn about someone new.

Administration / Enactment

I would need permission from administration to actually make this project a reality because I would need a space somewhere on campus to display the final project.

Evaluation

I know that there is a lot of potential for this project to be successful because it is easy to get people to participate as it would not take much time for people to engage in either step one or two. As people pass by on their way to classes it is not difficult to get their attention. Also, as I describe the project, I believe people will take interest in it and feel like they want to be a part of it. It may be difficult to attract the first people, but as soon as I do, more people will be attracted to the project and join.