Art must be Expensive, Shame Shame Shame
Performance: 45 minutes at Grace Exhibition Space, New York, 2015
I start this performance by introducing my perfumes, Channel No 5, j’adore, and La vie eat belle, as my imaginary friends. Each time I introduce a perfume, I use the perfume to draw abstract shapes among audience so that they can experience the perfumes. After the introduction, I tell stories about my life related to shame. Each time I finish a story, I use a perfume to aim a specific part of my body and constantly shoot the same spot for a minute. Later, I ask three well-known artist, curator, and collector to spray perfumes on me while audiences are repetitively shouting ” art must be expensive! shame shame shame.”
After three bottles of perfumes are sprayed on my body. I start to auction my perfumed clothing and body one by one. I offer a reasonable bit at the beginning. However, if there is no one takes it, my bit goes lower and lower until it finally gets sold. Each time the price goes lower, my body gradually changes from standing up high to squat on floor. Finally, my shirt was sold $50, my camisole was sold $60, my belt: $40, pants: $30, underwear: $80, shoes: $80, and my body ( sold for one night) : $70. Total income is $410 USD
photo credit:Quinn Dukes McDivitt