Barefoot Brunch

2021

Performance created in collaboration with Eva Priečková
Duration approx. 30 min
Venue: A Promise of Kneropy, Bratislava, September 2021

Barefoot Brunch explores the possibilities of storytelling within the movement.
The performance is based on one of the stories published in Soft Boiled, a collection of my essays. Barefoot Brunch is a personal story set in New York City. In autumn 2013 I was invited to a brunch organized by Artforum magazine – a locally famous social gathering that used to take place in the SOHO loft of Knight Landesman, the magazine's (at this time former) publisher.

My text is a tragicomic monolog of a young Eastern European artist who finds herself, both nervous and curious, participating in an informal yet exclusive event attended by the "crème de la crème" of the NYC art scene. She's wearing an H&M blouse that "looks more expensive than it was" and has no idea how to act in such a social setting. Experiencing social anxiety, she ponders "how to be herself", while getting drunk on mimosas. In the end, confused and exhausted from trying to navigate the awkwardness of the situation and the American small talk, inadvertently she comes up with sort of a performative strategy that helps her to survive the event.

Accompanied by a series of movements through the gallery space, the performative reading takes place on two mobile blocks. One performer, who stays silent, is re-creating the "stage" by pushing the blocks (and the reader) through the space, creating either supportive or challenging spatial situations for the "other body", with the intention to highlight the tension, discomfort, and absurdity inherent to the text piece.

The performance was set within the exhibition of Laura Gozlan, curated by Ema Hesterová and Denis Kozerawski.

(Photo documentation by Peter Sit)