Esitystaiteen seura

This is not a performance

In 2014, the theme of the year for the Live Art Society (Esitystaiteen seura) is performance. The purpose of the This is not a performance project is to study the interfaces between theatre, performance and other art forms related to the live arts, and to shake their boundaries. During 2014, the Live Art Society’s artists will be preparing performances, studying the history of performance and its theory, and collaborating within the established field of performance art.

The project is not only about actual performances but also about acquiring information, studying, researching and publishing. An eight-person workgroup including artists from different genres as well as a producer (all members of the Live Art Society) are delving into the history and evolution of performance and investigating its relationship to other forms of art. During the residency, the members of the workgroup are familiarizing themselves with questions related to performance art by both teaching and learning, and are also preparing actual performances, which will later be showcased at different events and festivals.