Starting from the mid -sixties, the historical avant -garde evolve into an expressive language, the performance of artist, who defined in antithesis to the theater. The arrival of the Fluxus movement, the Happening and even extreme body art transform the Orthodox artistic forms and the cultural norms. The issues addressed are often social and therefore, even environmental
The actions are configured with a strong social value, aimed at stimulating the critical thinking of the public, seen no longer as a passive user but as an agent body.
Artistic practice is therefore also expressed through protest works in order to turn on the spotlight on uncomfortable issues and refusing every artistic censorship.
Often the messages conveyed take on a clear radical and social orientation. For example, against war or in favor of women’s and minority rights. The environment and ecology also fall into these dynamics.
Not only Marina Abramovic
The name of Marina Abramovic, an active Serbian artist starting from the late 1960s, is often associated with performance art. It is erroneously indicated as the pioneer of this expressive form, which actually was born with the primitive man and his ritual practices. However, we can say that the awareness of his artistic value arrives on the western front in the 70s.
In reality, already with the Duchampian conceptual art of the beginning of 1900 and the Japanese movement of the Gutai group of the 1950s of the last century, the maximum expressions of artistic freedom that constitute the foundations for the performance art are configured.
Performance Art and Ecology: “The 7 thousand oaks”
Many artists try to sensitize the public on global environmental challenges.
Ecological performance not only dealt with issues related to climate change, but also try to change the perception of the public regarding their relationship with nature. It therefore becomes a powerful tool to educate and stimulate a transformation in individual and collective behavior. The body and gesture are transformed into a visual and sensory communication channel.
In 1982 Joseph Beuys took part in the artistic event “Documento” in the city of Kassel, where he presented the work “The 7 thousand oaks”. He ordered 7 thousand basalt slabs in front of the Fredericiano Museum. These were bought by those who wanted it and the money obtained served to buy and plant oaks, with the intention of transforming Kassel into a forest. An operation that Beuys himself defines as “defense of nature”.
The work is still in the making, in fact, still three hundred years will be needed so that it can be done.
Several performances integrated elements of ancient rituals or indigenous tribes, which had beliefs related to respect for the earth.
Eco-performance
Eco-performance is a sub-category of performative language. It is expressed through works that not only deal with environmental issues but are also made with sustainable materials or that take place outdoors, immersed in nature, to emphasize the importance of ecological safeguard. The Brazilian artist Maura Baiocchi declares that he has coined the concept of eco-performance in 2009. This as part of the inauguration of a new cycle of works linked to the artistic investigation of tensions between body, descent and environment. Online we also find film festivals on the topic. In reality, the investigation in this direction originates with the ecological awareness.
Ecosexual di Annie Sprinkle by Beth Stephens
Sexecology, also known as Ecosexuality, is a radical form of environmental activism that invites people to treat the earth with love rather than see it as an infinite resource to be exploited. Founded by Elizabeth Stephens and Annie Sprinkle, whose manifesto is to make environmental activism “sexier, more fun and diversified”, faces environmental and artistic practice with ironic aptitude. Famous for organizing real collective weddings with the land and the sea, the works of Annie and Bethe are a way to recover the spiritual and physical connection with the natural world. This in response to the growing separation between humanity and the environment.
Latest generation
“Latest generation” is a movement made up of a group of young activists who recognize climate change and exhaustion of natural resources as an existential threat to the planet and for life on earth. They place themselves on the border between anti-art and protest action through the art and forms of Extinction Rebellion.
They have become known in recent years for having smeared works of art in order to attract attention to the climatic emergency. A behavior that has outraged many people, often unaware that the affected works were actually always protected by insulating materials, while for monuments the paints are often not complicated to be removed. The primary purpose, moreover, was not to ruin the works, but to carry out reporting actions.
Unfortunately intention most of the time they are completely ineffective. Strong and visible gestures are a way to attract attention and shake consciences, trying to push society to take the matter seriously. However, these actions often arouse strong and polarized reactions, in which the debate moves more to the legitimacy of the methods used rather than on the problem itself. With the result of obtaining wide media visibility where, however, the emergencies of activists risk being distorted or obscured by criticism on methods, making it difficult to start a deeper and more rational discussion on the theme.
The collateral and unintentional performative practice of Greta Thunberg
Greta Thunberg is a Swedish activist who became famous worldwide for his fight against climate change.
Although Greta is not an artistic performer, her behavior, its form of communication and its public action recall some key principles of performance art.
When Greta presents herself in front of the world leaders, as during her speech at the UN or the World Economic Forum, the public emotionally affects.
Fridays for Future is the movement that Greta has inspired and consists of global weekly strikes from young students to protest against climate change.
This strike also has the strength of a performative act that challenges the social and political order and takes the form of a real ritual event that involves millions of young people. Often with slogans and billboards that communicate powerful and visible messages to the whole world.
