I feel that Kaprow has a way of capturing the beauty of simple acts and just bringing them to life. If you don't know what I mean, then you should try looking up some of his instructions on how he performed some of his own Happenings and try them out with a friend. After participating in a recreation of Routine, it's even more clear to me how difficult it is to understand the significance of performance art without the benefit of experiencing the act.
Now, I know that I tend to harp upon the importance of context for art. In fact, context is still very important. However, Kaprow's works are experience-driven and personal. He gives the participants guidance, but then sets them loose to shape their interaction with the piece. In this way, Kaprow writes off the need of political, social, or historical context because each individual possesses their own context.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think the part you mention about how the happenings have their own context with each participant is quite interesting. I thought about what each individual takes from the happenings a little differently, but still ends up with the same overall message.
ReplyDeletealso I think his art is kinda of different from the rest of performing art out there because he actually let the audiences get involved. This reminds of of Marina Abramivc's piece last year in MOMA NYC, in which the audiences sit in front of her for hours and most people end up crying because they are truely feeling and getting involved in the art.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the idea that Kaprow acts as the guide and only gives instructions to the audience, then letting them loose to develop their own interactions with his artwork. It really fascinates me how some of his instructions for certain happenings are so easy to follow, yet so difficult to describe in words, once they are over. Hence, evidently, if we were to appreciate Kaprow's artwork, we would have to participate in it and actually physically interact with the piece to create our own style of art.
ReplyDeleteI strongly admire Kaprow for his passion towards art. Many artists today only create artwork for purposes of gaining success and earning money. However, since Kaprow's work could not be sold, it clearly shows that he created artwork just for his own pleasure, rather than for greedy purposes. This is one of the reasons why I personally greatly admire him!
I agree, it is neat how Kaprow allows the individual to have their own take on his pieces, and actually encourages viewers to add their own interpretation to his art. Allowing viewers to have some impact on the experience of how they see a performance of a happening increases the meaning of the artwork to them, and interestingly causes them to have some part in it.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed his ideas in freeing art as well. You are right, he did bring the beauty of simple acts we do everyday in life alive. He is genius for that.
ReplyDeleteEveryday life is getting more structured and rational every second. All the more reason to reinvent a happening every now and again.
ReplyDelete