WHY ME? ARTIST'S USE OF SELF IMAGE.
"At the close of the 20th century, self portraiture's goal, when imaginatively striven for, is not in clinging to the illusion of the perfect self, but in exploring as both subject and subjected that which commodity culture is rapidly transforming into object". (John Yau.The Phoenix of Self. Artforum. April. 1989).
Attaching the terms self-portrait, self-image, auto depiction, or self-representation to Live Art practice is problematic and complex. Why is our own participation central but not always identifiable? What elements of our psychological self remain within our presentations, and how does our own work relate to other artist's use of self-image?
This winter school project questions the complexities of artist's use of their own representation and explores the parallels between our own use of self-image and auto-representation in other creative disciplines. What motivates an artist to allow their physical presence to remain within their finished work? How can the spectator be aided to distinguish between the artist as person and a presented work of self-image? Can an artist's use of self-image contribute to the re-evaluation of the art object by promoting recognition of artistic quality and contribution, not solely in terms of cash value, but rather by suggesting an alternative currency of ideas?
This winter school project invites participants who are interested to experiment by using their own self-image / autobiographical content / live presence in an unconventional manner. The project aims to encourage artists from all disciplines to experiment with their own creative vocabulary in a distinctly non-narrative form, through the use of objects, movement, sound, images, text, collage and site-specific options. The workshop features both group sessions and one to one tuition. Notation in both text and sketch form is encouraged, as is dialogue, question and comment. Essentially, the workshop aims to articulate both visually and through conversation how a work of Live Art can exchange the role of the art viewer from purchaser to participator, and focus our obligations and options as artists within 21st century culture.
ANNE SEAGRAVE: Biography
Anne Seagrave (Ireland / Spain) has presented her distinctive movement based performance / video / installation work internationally for over 20 years. She began performing solo in 1982 and her residency at the NRLA 2007 marks her 25th anniversary of professional creative contribution to Live Art practice. She has won numerous awards including: Best Experimental Art Film at the Kerry Film Festival 2002, four Arts Council of Ireland Visual Art Bursaries, the Arts Foundation Live Art Fellowship 2002, and residency opportunities in Spain, Holland. Canada, UK, Poland and Ireland. Until 2004 she was a regular visiting lecturer at NCAD Dublin and freelance organiser of many live art events in Ireland. During 2006 she accepted invitations to perform in Israel, Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, Ireland, England, Finland and Poland, she is currently based in Barcelona. Anne has an AHRC Research Fellowship at the University of Ulster in Belfast until Jan. 2008 and is pursuing her own practice, touring and performing internationally, contributing to the faculty of arts and conducting parallel investigation into artist's use of self image.
Press quotes for JAMAIS VU
"the multiple shock effect of JAMAIS VU is without a doubt, the body in action of Anne Seagrave". Brecha Uruguay, 2006
"aesthetically sophisticated, dynamically executed and a pleasure to look at" http://www.spam.art.pl/ Poland, 2005
Press quotes for previous shows:
"beautifully performed and produced". The Irish Times, June 2002
"one of the most interesting figures in European performance art". Gazeta Wyborcza, January 2000.
Anne Seagrave is Artist in Residence at the National Review of Live Art 2007.