Performance Art Gets Intimate

From March 10 to May 31 the "grandmother of performance art,” Marina Abramović, performed her epic work “The Artist is Present” at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. For 736 and a half hours she sat mute and immobile at a table in the Museum’s atrium. She involved her audience by inviting them to take turns sitting opposite her.

Following in her footsteps, amongst others, the Proximity Festival came into being, although with a more intimate persona. The Festival presents intimate one-on-one performances that are an interaction between two strangers. It’s much like the personal interaction inspired by a conventional art work except that the art work is living and breathing and can respond in turn.

For those lucky enough to have tickets to this year’s Proximity Festival, it sold out in four days, there are 12 performances to experience.

·         A curious conversation about human flesh for the anatomically playful.

·         For those who don’t mind getting a little physical. No dance experience necessary.

·         For those who want to challenge national identity within their personal limits.

·         A joint effort tailor-made for all levels of driving experience. Zero blood alcohol required to teach.

·         A gentle task that may come with heavy rewards.

·         A sensory experience in an immersive installation. Contains flowers and pollen.

·         A roving experience that could take you to high places. Tailor-made for all fear levels.

·         A collaborative exercise looking at the pitfalls of gym culture and fitness fads.

·         For those willing to experience the momentary loss of their evolutionary advantages.

·         An insightful conversation about the natural world. You may want to take a deep breath.

·         A sensory experience for those with an appetite for making memories.

·         For those who don’t mind dancing with the untamed.

Further information about the Proximity Festival can be found at their website, here.