This Is Performance Art

This week has been filled with inspiration and today I felt the need to blog and write down some very much welcome ideas.

Last sunday evening I was delighted to go see Imelda May at the Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh...words can't even describe how AMAZING it was and by far one of the best gigs I've ever had the privilige to attend - Imelda was stunning in both voice and presence and the band too were fantastic players...you could almost feel the Irish charm and their personalites oozing out from the stage.  The Liquid Rooms is also a tiny venue that creates a beautiful sense of intimacy...as Imelda stated "We love playing these gigs 'cause it feels like a pub gig...in a good way.  I can see all of you".  Not many gigs will see Imelda singing along with a member of the audience.  Epic.

That weekend, I cultured my wee mind out in several galleries including several hours spent at the National Gallery (probably the first time I've found myself inspired by those paintings...I must be growing up, ha).


You'd think I'd had enough for the week but no, no, no.  I heard, unfortunately at very short notice, that there was going to be a Performance Festival taking place...in ABERDEEN.  Who'd have thought, therefore I could not miss out on this opportunity.  Annoyingly I only managed to catch the performances on the Friday (18th Feb) evening at Citymoves.  What can I say....so glad I caught even that.  It was also brilliant timing as Diane Arbus' photography is currently showing at the Aberdeen Art Gallery.  I've admired her work for a long time, therefore was ecstatic about finally seeing it in person.

The festival featured the Black Market International.... a talented group of performance artists.  Norbert Klassen's slot was filled in by a group performance due to him being crititcally ill.  An unrehearsed, spontanious and beautifully organic group performance that lasted for around 45minutes was both terrifying and poignant at the same time.  You could feel the tension and the worry that they all held for their ill colleague but also the support that they all gave each other through a series of copied movements; even with such a spontaneous performance.  The fragility of the situation was also shown, mainly through the act of teacups falling to the floor after the artist painfully tried to support them at arm's lengths for a long period of time.  Each artist was creating their individual performances yet completely aware of each other. A painfully beautiful performance.