16 April 2009, Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Who you go with to a show can really make the world of a difference. You can sense the vibe that’s coming from the person next to you… chances are, if the person next to you likes or dislikes a show, it’s going to affect how you receive the show too.
Saying that, I have a friend that I like going to shows with. Up for seeing anything and usually sees the positive side. You aren’t afraid that you’ve made a wrong recommendation… not so worried about whether or not it’s going to be good or bad.. because if it’s bad.. we just laugh it off.
Anyway, our latest adventure was Jan Fabre. There was actually no way I was going to ask anyone to come see it with me…controversial, shocking, explicit.. you name it. But I guess that’s what sold the show! And I’m glad I went to see it.. I actually enjoyed it. Some parts I had to look away… some parts made me squirm. (Heh, note how I’m glazing over the details…I think the title pretty much says enough)
The ideology behind the performance was really interesting. The evening was in a form of a series of sketches which ridiculed our excessive tolerance for anything and everything, as well as our credit card society where you can pretty buy anything to the point where nothing is abnormal or unconventional anymore.
It wasn’t gratuitous for the most part, nor was it shock for shock’s sake… which is pretty hard to do.
Jan Fabre is a spectacular 21st century multidisciplinary artist. He’s probably best known for (other than his risqué staged works)… covering a building with bic pen drawings, being the first living artist to exhibit at Le Louvre and his obession with beetles since he was a child which led him to create Heaven of Delight – 1,000,000 beetle shells glued to the ceiling of the Royal Palace in Brussels.
A ONE MILLION BEETLE MOSAIC! Imagine that! (shudder… but I would love to go see it)
Eat Your Art Out 