The Internet’s Getting Interesting Again
I take a few days away and an artist named Aliza Shvarts shakes up a few people.
Art major Aliza Shvarts ’08 wants to make a statement.
Beginning next Tuesday, Shvarts will be displaying her senior art project, a documentation of a nine-month process during which she artificially inseminated herself “as often as possible” while periodically taking abortifacient drugs to induce miscarriages. Her exhibition will feature video recordings of these forced miscarriages as well as preserved collections of the blood from the process.
This turned out to be as Mr Ellis predicted: “the first “great” conceptual artist of the internet age.”
I’m not one for performance art, but this little stunt generated some curious reactions. And, it seems to have some actual thought behind it. Unlike other performances I’ve seen.
Statement by Helaine S. Klasky – Yale University, Spokesperson
New Haven, Conn. – April 17, 2008
Ms. Shvarts is engaged in performance art. Her art project includes visual representations, a press release and other narrative materials. She stated to three senior Yale University officials today, including two deans, that she did not impregnate herself and that she did not induce any miscarriages. The entire project is an art piece, a creative fiction designed to draw attention to the ambiguity surrounding form and function of a woman’s body.
She is an artist and has the right to express herself through performance art.
Had these acts been real, they would have violated basic ethical standards and raised serious mental and physical health concerns.
(Via warren ellis: 1, 2, 3, 4)
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