Liminal Acts

Description:

Sharon Alward held an evening banquet in the Grand Luxe Hall. Attendees mingled and socialized with each other and Alward, who wore a pair of neon angel wings for the duration of the performance.

Tables were set with platters of hor d’oeuvres, desserts, fruit punch, candles, and flowers. In the background, an autobiographical video of the artist was projected. With no structured timeline, attendees were free to come and go.

As the banquet came to a close, the remaining guests, along with curator Victoria Singh, took to the streets to distribute the leftover food.

The performance subverted traditional theatre, clichés of climax and conclusion, and the traditional information structure. Liminal Acts worked within a non-matrixed performative structure which was based on the audience relationship and the potential for transformation.

The performance also made reference to the writings of anthropologist Victor Turner, specifically his theories associated with liminality; “the betwixt and between.”

This work was a part of the Contemporary Ritual Series curated by Victoria Singh. 

Video documentation available upon request.