Mostly harmless: a performance series
19 August - 24 September 2006

The Govett-Brewster Art Gallery is set to unveil an exhibition that aims to connect gallery audiences with artists' performances.

Curated by Charlotte Huddleston, Mostly harmless: a performance series, focuses on the interplay of the artist and audience in a series of ten performances.

Over a six week period the series will feature a selection of artist performances accompanied by a programme of video documentation of historic and contemporary performance work.

Huddleston says the series will give audiences the chance to directly experience artist performances, which are not often seen in public galleries. "It has an element of fringe about it, yet it has been a vital part of art making since at least the early 19th century."

She says performance frequently activates the dynamic between artist and audience by inciting participation from the audience. "Mostly harmless focuses on this point of exchange between audience, performer and environment through different contingencies set within each performance. The artists use frameworks like the classroom, musical performance and guided bus tours to introduce alternative views or consider questions and ideas with the audience."

The opening weekend includes a performance by Wellington artist David Cross. His performance, titled Bounce, invites visitors to climb on to a bright red bouncy castle-like dome. Bounce is a powerful performance exploring social acceptability that tests the artist's endurance through a surprising combination of intimacy and distance with the audience.

Louise Menzies highlights the dynamic of performer and audience in an orchestration of couples performing music together.  The Wellington artist has invited couples to join an evening of performances titled Sparking duets, New Plymouth. Menzies developed the event in response to the dynamic between performers, taking 'romance' as a connection to further explore such dynamics by inviting partners to perform together.

The video programme includes a variety of performances that provide a background to the live performances, giving historical context with works from the early '70s through to contemporary works from the current decade.  It includes work by many artists performing in the series as well as works by: Vito Acconci (US), Bruce Barber (NZ/CA), Chris Burden (US), Kah Bee Chow (MY/NZ), John Cousins (NZ), Phil Dadson (NZ), Andrew Drummond (NZ), Dan Graham (US), Amanda Newall (NZ), Hannah Wilke (US), Carey Young (UK).

A DVD catalogue of the performances will be produced after the series.

Mostly harmless: a performance series opens at the Govett-Brewster Art Gallery on 19 August.

For additional information or visual materials, contact:

Tyler Cann
Curator, Len Lye Collection
tylerc@govettbrewster.com
+64-6-759 6713

Lauren Andreoli
Communications Co-ordinator 
laurena@govettbrewster.com
+64-6-759-6717