They also become a little unnerved by how raw performances can be. In the past, we have seen powerful performances dealing with bullying, anorexia, how "no" means "no", gang deaths and the effects on families, and even the effects of guns in the schools. REALLY powerful work and kids are so moved.
They study great teachers of this movement. They learn about many different performance artists from our theatre history roots. One of the amazing artists they study is Marina Ambramovic.
Recently, Ambramovic was doing a live art performance at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art that consisted of spend one minute in complete and utter silence with a total stranger. What I noticed as profound about this performance art piece was the idea of what you can see behind someone's eyes if only you will take the time to actually pause and look deep. So many times we look to the ground, try so hard not to make eye contact, we get caught up in the fast pace and blur the edges of our surroundings to just get by and get going to get ot where we are going with just as little contact as possible. Many just look to the ground to not let anyone in...into your head, into your heart, but what ends up lacking is honesty, of sharing your truth, integrity, and people begin to question your intention. But when one stops and REALLY LOOKS into someone's eyes, you see into their soul, into their heart, and after you get passed the awkwardness, you can truly connect.
Many people showed up to witness and be a part of this artistic event, but her response to one person in particular was especially moving and brought tears to my eyes. SO heart-breaking and profound. AT around the 1:30 point in the Youtube video, Ambramovic looks up and into the eyes of someone she has not seen in almost 30 years. Ulay, her former lover, sits down in front of her and it is this moment of realization that is beautiful and painful and raw. Marina and Ulay had broken up and had never looked back but always wondered. She clearly tries to hold it all together but cannot and then once he leaves, she tries to reconnect but is clearly shaken and moved.
What I also found so poetic is the moments surrounding their final moments together. they start on either end of the Great Wall of China. They walk to each other, embrace each other, and turn and walk away to never look back. And they didn't. Uber romantic, uber profound...kinda over-the-top, but yet truly poetic.
One of the lyrics within the underscoring states, "He just had to know if she had forgot his name."
Ever had one of those true loves? Ever wondered?
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