Angelica Sule

Towards Performance Objects establishes a new relationship between art object and performance using performance objects and through this discusses new methods of curating performance. Taking first traditional definitions of objects and how this is changing, it then looks to performance along with its canon by exploring Performa and how this has established new directions and resurgence in performance work.

The Romanian Pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale An Immaterial Retrospective of the Venice Biennale serves as a case study for the use of performance objects and what issues come from them. It offers a brief comparison with Tino Sehgal’s These Associations shown in the Tate Turbine Hall. A pivotal point of research into this particular piece was an interview conducted with the curator of An Immaterial Retrospective, Raluca Voinea. This highlighted several aspects of the exhibition that are explored in closer detail. The interview shows how important it is for this kind of work to be treated as object within an exhibition and how major institutions are not prepared for this way of working. It outlines what Roselee Goldberg has been trying to do with Performa in bringing performance as a medium to the forefront and focusing on proper treatment and display.

This text looks into into the temporality of exhibitions and performance, in terms of different schedules and temporalities at play – museum time, biennale time and performance event time. What different senses of time were used in An Immaterial Retrospective and how did that affect the viewing and reading of the piece. It shows how performance objects can be used to provide more engaged viewing and exhibition making, whist highlighting problems and issues that can arise.