Admittedly, one area of conceptual contemporary art that I infrequently explore and struggle to comment on is Performance Art. In 2014 the Walker Art Center curated a performance art exhibition that showcases black artists and their contributions to this unique creative medium. Radical Performance was the first large-scale retrospective of its kind. Curator Valerie Cassel Oliver stated it was more than a retrospective, it was a living history documenting the process of artistic creation. The show presented an interdisciplinary representation of performance art from light, sound, dance, and sculptural performance that provided a unique commentary on the creative process. What I didn’t realize is that performance art is often used as a catalyst for developing concepts that are used in more traditional artistic expression. Think of it as a kinetic brainstorming session.
The Walker show ended in January, but this video featuring Valerie Cassel Oliver explains the evolution of this exhibition and the impetus behind Radical Performance.
Culture Shock Art 