1 October 2007 – 13 January 2008
For his exhibition at Chinese Arts Centre, Brendan Fan will present a series of exhibition labels each bearing a descriptive title of a performance. The titles will act as the sole reference to the performances, and the labels will be displayed in a way that emphasises the lack of proper documentation.
The performances described in the labels are deliberately vague to allow the audience a wide scope in how to interpret and reconstruct the performances. The labels will be displayed alongside unrelated images and objects to reiterate how documentary material can affect understanding and interpretation.
The work is intended to address the problems and contradictions inherent in the documentation of live art.
Brendan Fan’s practice is varied and consists of discreet gestures, actions and interventions. Although the work is grounded in performance art, the actions are not intended for live audiences. Instead, viewers must reconstruct the actions through a variety of documentation including photographs, written documentation, cheques, legal documents, spreadsheets, proposals, e-mails, letters and other correspondence.
His work utilises absurdity, humour, futility and failure to investigate the nature of the art object and the contexts in which it exists.
Brendan Fan’s work will also be part of this years VITAL the essence of performance Live Art Festival 20-23 November 2007 www.vitalfestival.org
