In the event of Amnesia the city will recall
Item
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Title
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In the event of Amnesia the city will recall
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Description
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In the event of Amnesia the city will recall explores the relationship between the individual and the metropolis. These works are not structured events for a traditional audience, they are questions proposed to the site. Open actions which rely on the surrounding dynamics to embellish them. The city as audience, collaborator and performer is emphasised in this piece.
Twelve sites were selected around the city of Sydney where surveillance cameras are prominently placed. The locations were mapped out and the stage for “in the event of Amnesia ...” was created. A pilgrimage was made to the sites daily for a period of three days. Upon arrival the performer attempted to engage with the electronic eye. The performers actions were directed to the camera which adopted the role of audience. No permission was sought for the use of these sites. The performer arrived unannounced and carried out his actions. Within this urban context there exists an interplay between what I have termed as the “primary and secondary audience”. The primary audience is a targeted audience, a person or congregation who is willing to observe and assess. For the “Amnesia” piece the primary audience was the surveillance camera (or those who monitor them). Their willingness to observe is not based upon the longing for entertainment. It is “order driven” and stems from a necessity to asses and monitor designated terrain. Imbued with a watchdog consciousness, the primary audience scans the field for suspects, clues and leads. Like many audiences it assesses the scene and attempts to pre-empt the plot. However this audience is extremely discerning, and ultimately by assessing and reacting to the event it also adopts the role of performer.
When both parties (self & surveillance camera) become locked in performance the notion of audience is further expanded. The secondary audience exists because of the location of the action. The sites chosen were courtyards, walkways and thoroughfares. Locations of travel and transience. The secondary audience is a possible audience, a transient audience and an audience of chance. It is an autonomous audience who is self directed in its choice wether to stop and pay attention, or wether to ignore the event. It is also an audience entrenched in the glance as opposed to that of the gaze, quickly flying through the scene and capturing a “frame or snapshot” of the event.
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Date
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1996/1997
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Type
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performance
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Extent
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7:31
