Performance C 2012 (video documentation)

(Live views in Fotanian Open Studios 2012)
Dimension Variable, Performance
2012

Performance C was a live performance by Rental United in Fotanian Open Studios 2012. It is an “Artists as janitor” performance, in which artists dressed up in suits to perform “cleaning acts” during the event. In this piece, artists’ presence is the hub between the venues, organizers and audiences.

Rental United again renovated its studio space into a white cube space. They dressed in suits and presented as “janitors”, with a guest musician transforming their studio into a stage. The guest musician would play random sounds, and RU members cleaned the space simultaneously.

While a constant flux of audience kept stepping into the studio space, they also brought in all the dirt and dust from outside, combined with RU member’s cleaning acts (with water and mops) would make the entire process an endless loop as dirt was being removed by the artists, new joining audiences would bring in new dirt. Making this “cleaning” action from a goal-oriented task into an open-ended frustration.

In this piece, Rental United attempted to force the audience to participate in their work. Audiences were left without much choice as once they stepped into the studio space, they immediately became part of the piece.