Performance Carousel
At Faena Arts Center Buenos Aires
The performance art project, conceived by artist Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevic and curated by myself, offers a groundbreaking approach to presenting multiple performance art pieces as a singular living installation, while also showcasing them as individual works. Making its debut at the prestigious Faena Art Center in Buenos Aires in 2014, Performance Carousel featured a rotating installation that brings together 10 artists, each contributing their unique pieces centered around a central theme.
Curatorial Statement
Shame is an opportunistic feeling intertwined with specific groups and situations, shaped by our individualistic and narcissistic age. For Kant and sociologists, shame represents a heteronomous fear of social blame that becomes ingrained in our belief systems. In contrast, the Communist regime in Russia viewed shame as an unforgivable expression of individuality, employing a lifestyle philosophy aimed at eradicating differences.
"Down with Shame" emerged as a governmental propaganda movement between 1924 and 1925, featuring guerrilla interventions where naked activists chanted anthems of free love, equality, and democracy to challenge societal norms. Inspired by these contrasts, Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich embarks on a collective journey with eight international artists, inviting the audience to reflect on the meanings of shame.
"Carousel," a living art installation, embodies the juxtapositions between individualism and collectivism, blurring the boundaries between group and solo shows. Divided into nine sections, each artist operates within their own enclosed space, separated by walls. The rotating installation, activated by three bikes ridden by volunteer audience members, encourages active engagement rather than passive observation.
Drawing inspiration from the historical function of carousels as training devices for Turkish and Arabian armies, "Carousel" transcends mere amusement. It showcases nine endurance-based performances, each lasting over five hours a day for a week, inviting the audience to observe from a distance as the artists alternate. However, viewers can also enter the carousel, choosing which section to join and becoming part of one performance at a time. "Carousel" is not simply an "interactive" art show; it urges a lived experience, redefining the approach to performance art.
Participating artists:
Chuyia Chia, (Malaysia)
Eloise Fornieles (UK)
Belen Romero Gunset (Argentina)
Andrés Knob (Argentina)
Bhagavan-David Barki de Lima (Brazil)
Lolo y Lauti(Argentina)
Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich (Russia/Brazil)
Eduardo Alcón Quintanilha (Argentina)
Joshua Seidner (US)
Curated by Marcello Pisu
Architect: Atelier Marko Brajovic (São Paulo).