On 'performance art' as a defence for murder / Garrett Phelan at Basel (Friday 6 June 2008)
Beyond the boundaries of performance art
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| Michael Stone is restrained during his Stormont 'performance'; image held here |
We reported around a year and a half ago on a bizarre entry in the annals of performance art - the claim by 'Milltown murderer' Michael Stone that his potentially murderous incursion at Stormont, Belfast, on 24 November 2006, was in fact a performance (more here) -
On December 19, 2006, Stone's defence lawyer Arthur Harvey, QC, claimed on his behalf that the Stormont incident was not intended to endanger the life of anyone. "It was, in fact, a piece of performance art replicating a terrorist attack", claimed Harvey. Wikipedia entry
Stone is now in court, since 12 May, on trial for the attack (the trial was due to resume today; on Monday he dismissed his defence lawyer.)
In response to Stone's 'performance art' defence, a number of prominent names related to performance art, particularly in Northern Ireland, issued the following statement the day before yesterday:
To whom it may concern,
With relation to the recent assertion by Michael Stone's Defence Lawyer, that his attack at Stormont on 24th November 2006, was in fact 'Performance Art', we would like to put forward the following statement.
It has been recently published that on, or soon after, his arrest, Mr. Stone is quoted as stating that he intended to murder two political representatives during his interruption of proceedings at Stormont. In light of his own admission, we do not consider his attack at Stormont to be 'Performance Art'. We therefore believe that this defence statement is both erroneous and misleading. Murderous intent, or attempted murder, is not art, and in fact is the antithesis of art and we do not subscribe to 'art' being used as a convenient and belated 'cover' for such actions. Creativity in art, by its very nature, cannot condone murder, as the taking of human life (against the victims' will) negates creativity itself.
We are aware that within the History of Art there are some incidents which, at times, have set out to test social boundaries and taboos and may even involve self harm, or diverse aspects of violence to self and/or other. In most of these cases, however, the artists involved have used mediated imagery as part of a wider political, social, and cultural discourse, questioning and challenging various status quos. However, we do not know of any reputable artist who would attempt to commit actual murder under the guise of art. From our perspective, the intent to kill or to take another's life, against his/her will, as the basis for creative art, is neither logical, palatable, nor a salient position to hold by any responsible human being.
If we accept Stone's actions as 'Performance Art' on this occasion, then by implication, it could be argued the last thirty years of the 'Troubles' with all their attendant killings and murders, were also 'Performance Art'. Were they? We ask you!
Brian Connolly
Alastair Mac Lennan
Brian Patterson
Siobhan Mullen
Sandra Johnston
Colm Clarke
Slavka Sverakova
Sinead O’Donnell
Hugh O’Donnell
Elina Hartzell
Mark Ward
Chrissie Cadman
Phelan first at Basel
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| The mother's tankstation installation at Art Basel's Art Conversations , featuring Garrett Phelan ; image held here |
Garrett Phelan has become the first artist from Ireland to feature at Art Basel's prestigious Art Statements. Art Statemensts consists of "one-person stands by young artists working with rising galleries worldwide." The fair continues until Sunday.
Most recent news items:
• Browne / Kennedy selected for Venice (Tuesday 3 June 2008)
• Circa: the stand (Friday 30 May 2008)
• What's going on with Culture Ireland? (Tuesday 27 May 2008)
• Ill wind at ev+a (Thursday 22 May 2008)
For a full list of news items, click here.
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try and make work that doesn't topple over in future!...
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| Responses so far |
| Comment 1 |
hang on a minute... surely the feller who won the prize at
art statements, duncan campbell (born dublin 1972) is also
the first artist from ireland to exhibit there? unless he
was slower installing his work than garrett?
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