Born in 1956, lives and works in Tallinn.
MY APPROACH TO PERFORMANCE WORKS
The main focus of my performance work is to involve the audience in the performance.....I remember being in Malmo a couple of years ago watching a very nice durational performance piece; I was leaning up against the wall standing next to a friend when I realized and commented to my colleague: “Oh, this is our job as audience members; to be stuck to the wall like flies on fly paper” It was a rather unsettling realization that changed and challenged me to rethink and act out more in my works in order to get the audience more actively involved….. The audience members can be living contributors in performance works, can move and share their thoughts and feelings… if the performer is interested in opening the door to them…. For me an audience that is sitting still, quiet and static might as well be dead, bags of flesh non-actively stuck to a spot…. That is perhaps a bit extreme of a viewpoint but I like to remind them that we are alive!!!!! We are able to move and think and create something living together.
I not only utilize my nervous anxious energy in my schemes and actions, but theirs as well and this together creates a mood and tension that is real (in the moment,) beautiful and alive. Whereas I too must admit enjoying voyeuristically watching performances from aside in a chair, I also enjoy the freedom to jump, move and scream when inspired…… As a frequent audience member I must say that it is refreshing to have the choice rather than being confronted with the traditional “SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!!!!…” format that is always provided in most performance situations…… I have been working all over the world with audiences on the streets, in galleries and museums for several years and they have never let me down... I have invented several “vehicles” that actively engages the audience in “our” works..... For me there is nothing more beautiful then to open the performance to them..... to give it over to them and stand back and see their actions…. they always deliver the gooooods.... everytime... They are free to make their choice of whether to participate or not and how they participate….. I open the door to them and they help make everything happen within the performance structure and format...... I have developed my methodology through the years and enjoy creating solo works and collaborating with other artists and artist groups as well.... I am always thinking about and looking for new ideas and ways of working to incorporate into my repertoire...
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