Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Action Pants

One of my favorite performance artists is Austrian artist: VALIE EXPORT.  Her work is visceral and provocative.  If you don't believe me, you will after sitting through "Remote, Remote"


I believe the body is a useful tool in which to promote a message; it's free and accessible so "why not?" I say.  EXPORT's Action Pants was created as means to counter the male dominated art scene in Vienna at the time.  She walked around the city in pants with the crotch cut-out, mussed hair and carrying a machine gun, challenging the public to engage with her.

This lovely work is currently on view at MOMA as part of the exhibition Staging Action: Performance in Photography since 1960.  (Cindy Sherman and Marina Abramovic are also featured) A must see!  But if you don't live near NYC, no worries, just look below. 

  It takes balls to wear these pants.

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