My Performance Art Piece

For my next Art and Technology project, I had do a performance art piece, with the Role of Technology as main topic and with at least ten people present. It also had to be three minutes long.

Inspired by two performance art videos shown in class, I decided to make my performance art about a fact that is taking over today: Technology is becoming part of us, to an extent that we cannot live effectively without it, becoming slaves of what was created to facilitate our daily lives. Today we use technology in almost anything and would not survive if we have to live without it. From simple applications to computers, we are rapidly becoming more and more dependent on technology. I mean, almost everybody, including me, would fall in panic if our cellphones did not work. Others must have the newest and most innovative technologies, no matter how much it takes. Even though many, also including me, try to not become so dependent and attached to technologies (like the computer), most just come back, not able to continue without it. As more technologies arise, the more humans become slaves of it. This is the message intended to be transmitted by my performance art piece.

My performance art piece is composed of two factors: my appearance before, during and after the scene and the scene itself. For the first, I put on short pajamas and left my hair tangled and messy, which symbolize the fact that many barely leave their homes and stay in that condition while stuck using the computer. For the technology part, I used charcoal from my Figure Drawing class and drew on my body. On my face, I used the charcoal to draw really deep and dark shadow below my eyes. For some other parts of my face, neck, wrists, arms and legs, I drew a representation of those lines that end in a circle that are usually found on computer chips. Here is an image of what I mean:

The appearance part of the performance art piece mainly presents the fact that technology is becoming part of us, in this case being literally. To further explain the choice of clothes, it basically points out that the person stays in his/her house most of the time, using the computer or watching TV. This also begins to enter the topic of us becoming slaves of technology, not able or wanting to go out and do other things. We are completely attached to technology. Event though the appearance scratches the surface of that topic, the scene/performance is the one that mainly focuses on it.

For the second part of my performance art piece, I used my Mac and gathered many kinds of cables (chargers, headphones, etc). Settling in the Vaughn Courtyard, I would attach the smooth Mac cover under the computer (so it would not get scratched) and the cables in different parts of the computer. After I doing this, I would tie the cables to the areas where I drew the computer lines, which were in the neck, wrists, and the bottom part of my legs. After I did this, the scene began: I would struggle to break free of the cables, pulling and tugging but not able to get free. I dragged myself, and the computer with me, for a couple of minutes. At some times I screamed for help in Spanish (¡Auxilio!, ¡Ayuda!), to give it a more dramatic sense (unfortunately, due to some difficulties, I did not include audio in the video). This represents the fact that we are becoming slaves of technology. In this case, I am a slave of my computer; I try to do something else, but I cannot stop using my computer. I am literally bound, connected and trapped to the computer. Even though many try to not become so attached to technology, we already cannot live without it and remain as its slave. The topic of technology becoming part of us can be seen in my performance art in the concept on the fact that where the cables were tied to me, the chip lines began to appear. This actually meant to be seen as if the cables were actually becoming part of me and entering my skin. It is a bit complicated, but I hope the pictures will help.

First of all, I am a kinda shy and conservative person, who avoids attracting too much attention. So, for me this was a really tough and challenging project, making me get out of my comfort zone. I must say that I will never do anything like it again (only if it is required for a class). When I walked down the stairs in Vaughn, it took me five minutes for me to get out there and walk to the courtyard. As soon as I did, I felt everyone's gaze on me, as I heard some whispering and others laughing. I felt so vulnerable and embarrassed! Yet, I held my look firm and blocked them out. I felt that way throughout the entire performance, but my cameraman kept cracking jokes and comments and really helped me loosen up and enjoy it. I felt extremely awkward, but after the first seconds, I gained confidence and performed with less tension and worry. For a moment I felt free of my insecurity (even though I could not get free from the computer). I saw how some kept looking at me, while others just took a glance and continued their way. I felt good because I was actually transmitting them a message, a reality that is taking place today. After I finished my act, I admit that I felt vulnerable, but very proud of myself. I had pushed myself and stepped out of my comfort zone. I usually avoid that, so I really did something that will definitely make me more confident of myself and less conscious about what others think of me. In other words, even though I felt uncomfortable, this performance art piece helped me grow.

BLOOPER: I was supposed to take off my tennis shoes... but I was so nervous and anxious to get it over with that I forgot. I was supposed to do the scene with socks on, contributing to the whole pajamas concept. Oops!

So, before watching the video, here are some pictures of how I looked like just before heading to the Vaughn Courtyard: