Reverend Billy video here
An exorcism of the evil spirit of BP was performed in a special service in the Turbine Hall of the national gallery of international modern art. The Reverend Billy had an oil-like substance dramatically poured over his white suit by his gospel choir before being escorted out of the building. The gospel choir sung choruses of "Tate takes money from BP, and BP's money is the devil."
The event was brought to Tate by five different UK-based groups - Liberate Tate, UK Tar Sands Network, London Rising Tide, Art Not Oil and Climate Rush - all of which have staged multiple performance interventions and protests at Tate, part of a growing movement to rid public arts institutions from oil companies with negative social and environmental impacts all around the world.
I like the humor in the work, Bill Talen assumes the identity of a Televangelist. I am curious why his group assumes the persona of a church for their activist projects.
ReplyDeleteI believe he brings them into the performance/protest fold. Their voices and presence to bring more back-up, legitimacy, and power to his message - don't you think?
DeleteHe uses his body/voice as the art piece more than physical objects. I think location plays a big role in his work and audience participation helps build on the performance.
ReplyDeleteYes. Not all performance art relies on props or sculpture or performative objects. Especially certain kinds of interventionist work or guerrilla art. These folks have to travel light to get into the institutions or site-specific public spaces without being stopped or turned away,
DeleteThe performance is satirical in the sense that there is some humor within the work. The process/method of protesting and intervening a serious topic such as oil companies is impacting. The performance relies on the audience and the documentation of the event itself in order for the message to be seen or heard.
ReplyDeleteYes. Good. The site of the Tate with this sponsored exhibition is an inherent part of the work. It is obviously the reason for the work yes... but Rev. Billy needs this site as a place to creatively react against.
ReplyDelete