Exhibition view with Stefanie Seibold’s A READER-Wallpaper (2006 / 2008), photograph: Andreas Süß
Based on selected works by 24 artists of two generations, the exhibition
re.act.feminism - performance art of the 1960s and 70s today examined feminist performance art of the 1960s and 70s in Europe and the USA and asked about its echo in current artistic productions. A special focus was placed on the diversity and complexity of (feminist) performative strategies, including those in the countries of Eastern and Southeastern Europe and the former GDR. Current productions, especially in the form of re-enactments and archival appropriations, were placed in dialogic relation to the positions of the 1960s and 70s.
A central element of the exhibition was a video archive, which offered an insight into the performance art of two generations in a uniquely compiled collection of more than 80 performance documents, video performances and artist interviews. A rich program with live performances by icons of performance art such as Carolee Schneemann, Faith Wilding and Sanja Iveković, as well as lectures and discussions with many renowned artists and theorists including Tania Bruguera, Lorraine O’Grady, André Lepecki, Rebecca Schneider a.o. formed an essential part of the project.
The widely attended exhibition was shown from December 13, 2008 to February 8, 2009 at the Akademie der Künste Berlin. Parts of the exhibition were subsequently presented in Ljubljana (International Festival of Contemporary Arts, City of Women, 5.3. - 26.3.09) and in Erfurt (Kunsthaus Erfurt, 19.4. - 10.5.09).
The project, curated by Bettina Knaup und Beatrice E. Stammer, was produced by cross links e.V., realised in collaboration with Akademie der Künste, Berlin and supported by Hauptstadtkulturfonds, Schering Stiftung und Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung.