A collaborative project focusing on «the female as a performative practice» brought together Diana Lee, Laura Orazalin, Olivia Lehmann, and Artem Utrov.
“Feminine as a performative practice»: To be a woman is to perform Expression, a trend that has become widespread on the TikTok platform, used to describe satirical videos featuring female characters or figures who undergo repetitive exposure or engage in cyclical actions. A striking example is the statue of Juliet in Verona, touched daily by thousands of people searching for love.
Don’t you want somebody to love?
Video performance centered on the concept of gender performativity. The video features the artist’s child’s crib, draped in red fabric; the performance is a hypertrophied recreation of an event that takes place in the artist’s workplace, where she acts as a show ballet performer.
Traditionally, the «safe option» for women in society has been to reproduce unstated norms of femininity. By reproducing these specific norms, a woman attempts to protect herself from various circumstances that are fundamentally rooted in the oppressive structure of patriarchal society.
The social functions performed by women evolve over time. Yet, one characteristic remains constant—while a man might be accepted with a limited set of traits, a woman always performs some action, fulfills some function, in order to be perceived as a woman. This so-called «safe option» operates purely in theory, as it is highly exclusive and inaccessible to many who identify as women.
Diana Lee’s performance is connected to the history of the object on exhibit—it is intensely personal, yet it resonates deeply with everyone. People typically hide such personal aspects, but Diana reveals it, allowing everyone to understand. It is a dance of professional deformation in the profession of «being a woman, ” choreographed with precision: in this single chosen action, she shifts the roles of womanhood. Here, we find the work of being beautiful, and a return to childhood. Ultimately—it is the desire to leave this role and simply be a woman.» (Commentary by curator and instructor Diana Machulina)
living touching
A photo series, commentary, and supplement to the performance documentation. Its focus is on conveying the sensations of interaction: textures, objects, and bodies.
This photographic series is the result of shooting a performance, a discussion of which grew into a desire for all participants to continue—an inspiration that will remain.
The collaborative exhibition «Act of Being» took place on May 27, 2024, at the bULt space, located at Gagarin 83/Kurmangazy 185/1, Almaty.
Participants: Diana Li Laura Orazalina Olivia Lehmann Artem Utrov
*bULt is an experimental rave space—a research and artistic environment oriented toward the safety of all life forms.
