Launch of Ritual in Contemporary Performance

Description:

Western Front hosted a book launch and silent auction for Ritual in Contemporary Performance edited by Victoria Singh. 

The publication documented the 2002 to 2003 performance series of the same name curated by Singh, offering interviews with the artists, documentation, and critical analysis. The series was inspired by the public perception of performance art as “a flaky form of primitive ritual in execution and aesthetic,” and curated with the aim to investigate ritual in contemporary performance art. 

Singh introduced the publication and engaged with the audience in a question and answer. There were live performances by Singh and Devon Guest, as well as a performative gesture where Singh and the audience spoke to Linda Montano on the phone. Contributors Irene Loughlin and Archer Pechawis read their texts. A video compilation of the recorded performances was shown and is available upon request.