Up to and Beyond my Limits: Transgression in Performance Art

About the Open Call

Like no other artform, performance art provides a unique space for (re-)negotiating boundaries– both in their physical as well as mental manifestations. Transgressive practices have been famously employed by artists such as Paul McCarthy, Carolee Schneeman, Gina Pane or Oleg Kulik, who have tested and tampered with their bodily boundaries, creating thought-provoking works that hold, however, larger implications. They establish the body as political tool, which allows us to reconsider social and cultural standards and narratives. Beyond these explicit forms of transgression, however, there exist metaphorical and even poetic forms of transgression based on mental or notional concepts, which equally invite us to question personal assumptions, but also societal norms and power structures. This course offers participants a careful introduction to the concept of transgression as it appears in many forms and nuances in performance art. Through relevant theory, which allows us to approach and understand the meaning of transgression, case studies, practical exercises and assignments, feedback rounds and discussion, participants are guided to go beyond the surface and uncover the transformative power of transgression as a potential strategy for their own personal practice. They will be introduced to examples of explicit transgressions around the body and moral behavior but also consider implicit and poetic forms as, for example, silent resistance, duration, repetition, or stillness. In the context of our world as it is presently shaped by violence, angry political rhetoric and a climate of fear, this course is not about transgression as shock or alienation. It is about understanding the political force inherent in negotiating mental and physical boundaries, be it one’s own or one’s audience’s. Therefore, ethical considerations, care for oneself and the audience, and mutual respect are core elements of the course.

What is Offered

This course offers a careful introduction to the concept of transgression in performance art, through relevant theory, case studies, practical exercises and assignments, feedback rounds and discussion. Participants are guided to uncover the transformative power of transgression as a potential strategy for their own personal practice, considering both explicit and implicit forms of transgression.

How to Apply

Apply via the ECC Performance Art website using the 'ENROLLMENT' link.