Performance

Exploration of Body in Relationship to Classical Masculinity

Performance, 43:49

Photography by Abbey Behan

2022

Exploration of Body in Relationship to Classical Masculinity is a performance artwork examining the body and gender ideals reinforced throughout time by Greco-Roman statues and these statues’ secondary roles in advertising and mass media in the present day. The discussion of these topics is particularly relevant given the increasing frequency of discussions around the “normal” body; what that looks like, and whether it even exists. These discussions, while incredibly important and affirming, typically revolve around the female body and leave out the male body, as well as all non-conforming bodies, revealing a societal acceptance of the traditional archetype of “man” and reinforcement of the gender binary. These archetypes do not describe the population. They were inaccurate, idealized images at the time and they continue to be now.

Through this piece I deconstruct the Classical ideal of masculinity and body. I, as many others do, occupy a body not representative of this ideal. We have been conditioned to expect a certain body, an image reinforced through the repeated invocation of Greco-Roman symbolism. I question the role that these statues play in modern society as a template for “man”, utilizing sheer knit fabric to blur the image of my body and abstract the original pose of the statue. This allows for the work to be a clear communication between the body and the statue, but prevents the work being a communication just about my body, as well as breaking the connection between the real, living body and the hard, marble body.

“ENVIRONMENTS”

Sound Performances

2021 - Present

“ENVIRONMENTS” is an ongoing research project, culminating in a series of sound performances, exploring humanity’s desecration of the natural space and the concurrent reliance on and commercial reproduction of the psychologically beneficial aspects of our world. The advancement of our society and technology has led us on a path that diverges from nature and destroys it at the same time. The manipulation of the soundscape recording will be a reflection of our treatment of the natural world and will directly counter the intended psychological effect of the record: to give us temporary reprieve from the sounds and complexity of modern life. The performance will break our reliance on pre-recorded media to return us to the natural spaces that we have intentionally distanced ourselves from. The piece will begin with the soundscape as originally recorded. Throughout the duration of the performance, the artist will utilize a mixer, a delay and reverb pedal, and a distortion pedal to create a different version of the soundscape, one that’s dark and distorted, bearing only the slightest resemblance to the original recording. This piece demands recognition of the ways that we treat our world.

The Psychologically Ultimate Thunderstorm was performed at the Electronic Art & Intermedia Open House in October 2021.

The Psychologically Ultimate Seashore was performed at the University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum in April 2022.

Wind/Hail Storm was performed at Action Art Live at the Pump House in April 2022.

A Reading of the Human Impacts on Climate Change

Audio, 8:09

Live Radio Performance

2022

In this performance, I read the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report from 2020 while using a delay and reverb pedal, a distortion pedal, and a mixer to manipulate my voice. The IPCC report discusses the severity of the human impact on the climate and the associated shifts in temperature, atmospheric composition, and effects on the land, ocean, and precipitation. The resulting audio resembles an emergency declaration broadcast which, in a sense, it is.

Frog Piece

Video, 5:11

Performance

2022

Read frog names.

Make some of your own.

Walk around a room.

Touch everything.

Remember how the room feels.

Wait.

Remember how the room feels.

Touch it again.

Breath

Video, 14:34

Performance

2021

Breath was a performance artwork that took place at the outdoor theater of Kresge Art Center. The performance was a guided meditation following the Wim Hof breathing method, intended to strengthen the participants’ connection to those around them and the world. The breathing method engages our natural instincts, making us feel more aware of our bodies and surroundings, as well as clearing the mind. The work focuses on the feeling of connectedness after the completion of the Wim Hof, when the participants are encouraged to sit quietly and focus on how they feel.