Action Art Now Event 1 : O U I Performance

Action Art Now Event 1
Saturday 8th October 2011, Space 109 Walmgate, York.

A Review of the first Action Art Now event by Mark Greenwood is available online here

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Performances
Eva Barto (FR)
'Fireworks cancelled'

Eva Barto holds a Diploma in Theory and Practice in Cinema after studying at the Sorbonne of Paris and at the University of Montreal. She completed her studies at the Superior National School of Fine Arts, Paris. She created through photography and video production, variations around the spaces appropriation of individuals. But it is through constant practice of the territories of the world that she begins a relationship between images and performance: installed in Estonia, she practiced her art with performers from the Fluxus movement, in Georgia she convened artists to think and create around their territories, in Israel and the palestinians territories she attempted to capture the evident conflict in the urban topography in terms of a study about the expectation of individuals. Currently a member of a group of performers, she won a scholarship to complete her formation in the School of the Arts Institute of Chicago. She’s the artistic director of art and social studies magazine, Oscillations, the first issue will come out in October 2011.

Angela Bartram and Mary O'Neill (UK)
'Oral/Response'

Angela Bartram and Mary O’Neill have exhibited, performed and published nationally and internationally both independently and collaboratively. Most recently they performed at ‘The Future Can Wait’, in London. Bartram has an expansive independent exhibition profile including ‘The Animal Gaze’ (2011 and 2008), ‘East Goes East’, Krakow (2010), ‘East International 2009’, ‘Animalism’ at the National Media Museum (2009), amongst others. O’Neill has published works on performance, ephemerality, mourning, ethics and contemporary art, and the conditions in the twentieth century which contributed to the development of increasingly transient art forms.

Maurice Blok (NL)

Whilst concentrating on sculpting during my studies, I realized that what occurred before the work was even presented was of as much importance to me as the final piece itself. Subsequently, I started carrying out short experiments in front of a video camera; something that soon became close to what is called performance art. Soon after, my work evolved into actual performances, involving setting up and carrying out "actions" that bear aesthetic results in front of physical audiences. Having worked physically, and using tools, on an object (as a sculptor) it was only natural to bring this to my action pieces too. Although my work is performative I still consider myself remaining with a sculptural attitude, constructing and deconstructing whilst having some kind of interaction with audience (or not). Naturally, one’s performance art is ordered in a chronological manner, yet the viewer is not aware of this while encountering a performance.
The works I do are often not titled. A name can draw the attention away from what the piece is (or maybe could be) – just itself.

Hugh O'Donnell (NI)
'Lawn Mower Memory' 1

I am an artist. I work in Performance/action art. I also work in installation and drawing. Drawing tends to inform my performative work and vice-versa. My work is often auto-personal and has a tendency to be abstract and ambiguous in meaning. I favour high heels, handbags, tin cans, the colour blue and liver. I have most recently became interested in lawn mowers. I was born in Dublin and now live in Belfast where I did my degree and master’s degree. I work in a lovely studio at Platform Arts and I am currently on the board of directors of performance art organisation Bbeyond. I have been privileged to exhibit my work both in a national and international capacity.

About Action Art Now

Action Art Now is a programme of live performance events, curated by O U I Performance, York, UK. Bringing together over 25 artists, Action Art Now presents new work by performance art visionaries whose work exists firmly outside of the institutional and commercial art market.
Part 1 of Action Art Now brings together 16 national and international performance artists for 4 events in York in October, November, December 2011 and February 2012. The artists in Action Art Now not only make performance but are part of an international community of artists whose practice involves the action of establishing artist-led organisations and platforms for the continual evolution of action art and the variety of its forms.
Part 2 of Action Art Now will take place in York for a weekend of new performance in June 2012. The programme will be announced in the New Year. Action Art Now is supported by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

External Links
Angela Bartram & Mary O’Neill (UK)
Eva Barto (FR)
Maurice Blok (NL)
Hugh O'Donnell (NI)

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Angela Bartram & Mary O'Neill
Photo: Tim Hunt