Many artists, particularly those who describe themselves as conceptual and abstract, look for ways to further engage their audience with the work they have created. Modern hybrid artistic statements call on mixed genres in new and innovative ways in an attempt to draw audiences into dialogue.
Adding an Element of Mystery to an Exhibition
If the exhibition is a gala affair to arrange guessing games at an opening is probably not appropriate. But, if well designed turning the dramatic enactments into digital statements could add an element of mystery to the artworks on display. Spontaneous Haiku enacted by professionals in response to audience offerings could be the catalyst for improvisation which when captured digitally could be maintained as an intriguing installation for the duration of the exhibition. They could rotate on a revolving digital screen or even be projected as huge statements onto a wall.
The Simplicity of the Japanese Haiku
The Japanese are the masters of simple yet profound statements, which conjure imagery in the readers mind. (Donegan 2008)
The word "Haiku" has two syllables Hai-ku and the word poetry has three syllables po-et-ry. A syllable is a part of a word pronounced as a unit. It can be made up of a vowel alone or a vowel with one or more consonants. The traditional form of poetry called "Haiku" consists of 3 lines. The first line of the short verse has five lines the second has seven and the last mirrors the first with five. It is a strong profound type of poem that rarely rhymes.
This Haiku describes the formation when scripting a dramatic statement.
My first line has five
but middle line has seven
the end has five again.
Using Poetry to Script Performance
This performance piece challenges audiences to use the simple imagery so as to capture the essence of artworks as embodied motion. The short pieces are to be written about images recognizable to the other participants
To illustrate how this would work here are some, every day actions, animals and seasons as examples of recognizable topics that everyday people might enjoy exploring.
An example of an everyday action might be
click the sound alerts
flash bulb flares harsh and brightly
children smile whitely
Could you act out this Haiku? Could you paint the picture? Would you be able to guess the imagery if someone acted this out in front of you?
Try this animal Haiku
softly gently paw
stroking mother wanting more
roughly mothers tongue
What kind of animals were they? Could you picture them?
Moving From Literal Imagery to Abstraction
How would an artist script a Haiku so that actors could act out the seasons? This haiku may illustrate
oh so so hot!
flies mosquitoes annoying
sticking to sweat bzzz!
The exhibition performance could be set up in a variety of ways. Actors could simply improvise Haiku and the audience could guess. This would work particularly well at a children's school exhibition. But the idea could be developed so that it could be incorporated as a highly enigmatic artistic statement at even the most prestigious exhibition opening. On exhibition opening night actors could enact Haiku that reflect the context of paintings or sculptures on display.
Dramatic Enactments into Digital Statements
If the exhibition is a gala affair guessing games are probably not appropriate, but turning the dramatic enactments into digital statements that could rotate on a revolving digital screen could add an element of mystery to the artwork. This work although impromptu and improvisational on the night could be left as an installation for the duration of the exhibition.
There are many ways performances could be set up at exhibitions. Actors could simply improvise Haiku and the audience could guess. This would work particularly well at a children's school exhibition. But the idea could be further developed so that it could become part of a highly enigmatic artistic statement at even the most prestigious exhibition opening. On exhibition opening night actors could enact Haiku that reflect the context of paintings or sculptures on display. But to engage audiences perhaps they could write their Haiku response on paper provided and hand to actors who would then turn their thoughts into actions. If they were digitally recorded and projected the engagement of the audience would be an integral to the conceptual design of the artwork.
This one small way an abstract artist could move his or her work towards becoming a conceptual artwork. The dramatic enactment of Haiku could provide focus and mystery intended to engage audience as part of a digital installation.
Sources:
- Donegan,P. Haiko Mind: 108 Poems to Cultivate Awareness & OpenYour Heart. Boston & London. Shambhala. 2008
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