Has Matthew Barney been thrown into either the Hate Pit or been granted status as FWD?
Although not a fan of the Cremaster cycle or anything else, I was invited to a performance art event he staged last night and attended against my better judgment. Here's the description:
"Regen Projects presents
REN
A performance by
Matthew Barney
and
Jonathan Bepler
Date: Sunday, May 18, 2008
Location: 12626 Rosecrans Avenue
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Map of Location
Valet parking available*
Time: Doors open at 5:00
Doors close at 6:00 (performance to follow)
One night only
Please RSVP to renrsvp@regenprojects.com
*Transportation will be available leaving from the gallery, please indicate in your RSVP if you would like to reserve a spot.
"Ren" represents the first stage of the soul in its journey through the afterlife in which its "Secret Name" is revealed, and subsequently lost. REN will reference the Cremaster Cycle, linking Barney and Bepler's earlier project to the iconography and mythology of ancient Egypt. REN will feature the return of the 1967 Chrysler Imperial and Aimee Mullins from Cremaster 3, a Southern California drum and bugle corps, ranchera singer Lila Downs, and British performance artist Mouse. Performance is approximately 1-1/2 to 2 hours in duration.
WARNING TO ATTENDEES
The performance involves potentially dangerous industrial equipment and procedures. The risk of injury to you can only be reduced to a certain extent and cannot be eliminated. Access is granted to you entirely at your own risk. By attending the performance, you agree to assume sole responsibility for this risk and to release the producers and the production staff from all claims relating to any injury, damage or loss you may suffer or cause while on the premises.
RECORDING NOTICE
The performance will be photographed and/or recorded audiovisually. Your attendance constitutes your irrevocable consent for the producers to make use of such photographs and recordings, as they may depict you, for any purpose.
NO CAMERAS OR RECORDING EQUIPMENT ALLOWED"
So basically, we took a shuttle bus from an art gallery in West Hollywood to the "Ren Chrysler Dealership" in Norwalk, CA--about 45 minutes southeast of Los Angeles. After waiting on the roof of this car dealership for two hours--concrete, no shade, blazing hot, no water or toilets available, no concessions made at all to the number of handicapped people who were in attendance--the performance began. It involved a character actor reading a diatribe about the "river of feces" that all souls must pass through, a car dragged several hundred yards by really pissed-off-looking laborers, and destruction of said vehicle inside the car dealership that resulted in flying debris actually injuring an onlooker. Barney's status as FWD was cemented as soon as ambulances and fire trucks showed up to attend to the injuries, and people just milled around talking about being impatient for the after-party to begin. I guess I probably should have expected a complete waste of time, but I think Barney has reached new levels of douchebaggery.
Why do people do these things? It makes me really regret my Art History degree.
Boy, do I hate Matthew Barney.
