VANESSA BEECROFT VB65 LIVE PERFORMANCE AT PAC MILAN
03.19.2009

Via: designboom

Click HERE for more pics and info...



Text Via Designboom:


The show is composed of two parts: a new performance 'VB65' created especially for this
exhibition at the milan contemporary art gallery PAC and 4 video projections of performances
and videos 'VB48', 'VB54', 'VB61' and 'VB62'. 'VB65' is a performance of 20 african immigrants,
only men, seated at a 12m long table, dining as if at a last supper, dressed formally, a few did not
wear shoes, but all were wearing black dinner jackets, suits, eating chicken, brown bread,
drinking water, without platters or silverware, in front of an audience of invited guests.
the 20 hosts of the supper sat silently eating during the opening (for 3 hours).


known for her performances during which numerous models enact the ritual of being
and appearing, vanessa beecroft (born in genoa in 1969) is one of the most internationally
recognized italian artists. she lives and works in los angeles, usa.

everything in vanessa beecroft's life revolves around food. beecroft has struggled to
control an obsession with food since the age of 12. the spectre of anorexia haunted her teens
and twenties, beecroft suffers from what psychiatrists call 'exercise bulimia', a compulsive need
to burn off unwanted calories using excessive exercise. she is practising ashtanga yoga, 'without it',
she says she 'would go crazy'. vanessa beecroft announced herself boldly to the art world in 1993,
after a professor at the accademia di belle arti di brera in milan, where she studied from 1988 to 1993,
invited her to participate in a group show at the city's inga pin gallery. she showed a performance
of 30 girls, consisting of fellow brera students or girls found on the streets of milan, who were
instructed to move around the space, dressed in beecroft's own clothes. many of the girls were chosen
for their resemblance to beecroft, and were themselves struggling with eating disorders.
this first performance set the blueprint for beecroft's future as a conceptual artist. since then, she has
staged many more performances around the world (all titled VB01, VB02, VB25, VB45, etc),
and each was more elaborate than its predecessor.


VB48, VB54, VB61, VB62 - the four performances produced by the artist in the last years -
and the new VB65 will be at PAC until 5th april.

it was the first time of vanessa beecroft in a public exhibition space in milan.
exhibition curated by giacinto di pietrantonio, organized by PAC
in collaboration with MiArt and sponsored by tod's.
catalogue available in italian and english language, published by electa.


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 




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COMMENTS

Noelle47Killer | March 18, 2009
The Vanessa you hooked up with at your album release shindig?
late | March 19, 2009
She's showcasing their feet and their eating chicken...no silverware or platters. They are wearing darker make-up. This is clearly some bullshyt. They sat silently....ho please. lol @ 'would go crazy'.
jfrancis004 | March 19, 2009
After the performance they all were prepared to run a mad long marathon... and all finish in the top 20!!
itsthoseguys.wordpress.com
Noelle47Killer | March 19, 2009
My mom and her friends used to eat with their hands all the time lol. But she makes it look so..tribal or something..and so devastating:(
Noelle47Killer | March 19, 2009
By she I mean Vanessa lol
jfrancis004 | March 19, 2009
She of course signed them all up for the marathon...
itsthoseguys.wordpress.com
mjeazy20 | March 19, 2009
WATCH KINGS ON NBC. SHOW IS AMAZING
Noelle47Killer | March 19, 2009
Brown bread?? I like fresh French bread, especially in the morning..sop it with butter..I mean Ye just drench that b*tch lol
Noelle47Killer | March 19, 2009
I am sorry, margarine for me Ye. You know how I feel about butter :-
PVilla | March 19, 2009
http://www.zshare.net/audio/572811791b933cf4/
MACKOO | March 19, 2009
hummm.... wow
www.myspace.com/mackoomuzik
Noelle47Killer | March 19, 2009
Boo I am at the hair salon, bout ta get this relaxer finally lol, but I had to buy a TWIX for breakfast!! I already ate breakfast, but a TWIX for 50ยข?? I had to cop lol
Tdb1101 | March 19, 2009
OH HELL NAH, I LOVE VANESSA BEECROFT BUT I HAVE TO HEAR HER EXPLAINATION FOR THIS EXHIBIT! THIS SHIT LOOKS SOOOOO RACIST. BLACK MEN SITTING THERE WITH BLACK FACE ON REMINISCENT OF MENSTRUAL SHOWS. AND THEY'RE FUCKING EATING CHICKEN! WTF!!
Frankenswag | March 19, 2009
Holy Cannoli!! This be making Crazy Hungry!!
richizzle | March 19, 2009
black immigrant men eating is art...
in italy the police did not know that.
most of the immigrant are arrest with violence and go back to afrika.
same thing in france
let's make this exhibition in paris and please don't forget too invite our new immigrant minister eric besson
i'm sur i will be exating about that.
LEmpireDesLoups | March 19, 2009
Where is the cornbread dressing, yams, mac & cheese. This feast reminds me of the movie girl interrupted. nice work!
fredhart | March 19, 2009
KANYE YOU INSPIRE ME TO MAKE ART LIKE YOURS!!!! it's an 808s and Heartbreak art series based off your songs!!!
http://www.gowherehiphop.com/2008/12/08/fred-hart-808s-heartbreak-artwork/#comments
SilverandGold | March 19, 2009
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SilverandGold | March 19, 2009
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SilverandGold | March 19, 2009
www.yosign.blogspot.com
SilverandGold | March 19, 2009
www.yosign.blogspot.com
SilverandGold | March 19, 2009
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SoloPoloVision | March 19, 2009
This is genius, visually striking and so well thought out, the concept is excellent.
Cloud10LV | March 19, 2009
Hmm on the fence about this one...
ItSJuStPhiLBaBy | March 19, 2009
WTF IS THIS?? THIS SHIT IS CRAZY. I UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE ART THING BUT COME ON KANYE, I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS. WHY'D THEY HAVE TO BE BLACK?? WHY COULDNT IT BE 20 WHITE GUYS? AND SOME OF THEIR FACES HAVE DARK MAKE UP ON TOP OF THEM BEING ALREADY BLACK. NO SILVERWEAR, NO PLATES, SOMETHING IS UP. HONESTLY I THINK ALOT OF THIS WIERD ART SHIT HAS TO DO WITH SOME SICK RICH MOTHERFUCKERS REQUEST. IF YOU CALL THIS BULLSHIT ART AND ITS WORTHY TO PUT UP ON HERE THEN THATS CRAZY NOW I REALLY DONT BELIEVE KANYE POST THESE BLOGS FUCK OUTTA HERE. THAT SHIT IS WACK AND UNINSPIRATIONAL
ciara1989 | March 19, 2009
There are lots of messages in this mise-en-scene.This is an artist,that's no sense to affirm your own vision of things about what she wants to tell us.This is ART!It can be weird,gorgeous,looking like useless...But you can try to understand,don't give a damn so fast!And it's interesting so see people's reaction..I think this is a very good way for thinking,reflecting about life in a generally sense.."Why are they all Black?"Why are they eating with hands?","Why some of them have their face painted with black painting whereas they are already black?","Why they are not wearing shoes?","Why they are wearing suits?"You can wonder a lot of question!And you did!Try to go beyond!
ciara1989 | March 19, 2009
Art is an incredible way ofr learning from others and giving them respect in a total broad sense
ciara1989 | March 19, 2009
*of
tuesdainoelle | March 19, 2009
@Ciara:
Thank GOODNESS for people like you, who are able to look pass the "surface" , and rather than JUDGE immediately&falsely without owning FULL information before seeing the BIG picture, you're able see the "depth and skill" from within the meaning of its self :O)And I agree with you.
http://behindtheinspiration.blogspot.com
tuesdainoelle | March 19, 2009
Hm moment:
everything in vanessa beecroft's life revolves around food. beecroft has struggled tocontrol an obsession with food since the age of 12. the spectre of anorexia haunted her teens and twenties, beecroft suffers from what psychiatrists call 'exercise bulimia', a compulsive needto burn off unwanted calories using excessive exercise.
*
I understand....I suppose her "ways" of expression&"ART" views are based upon things that are symbolic to another---taken and twisted in different perspective ALL according&titing into events that Vanessa feels she can relate to in "some" kind of a way.Just my thoughts. THIS IS NOT RACIST! As Ciara said; Try to go beyond and see the BIG complete picture before you JUMP to conclusions!
JulianObubo | March 19, 2009
This is art? Kanye, this is art?
Exhibiting African people eating chicken is art?
Dehumanizing Africans is art?
This is the same Vanessa Beecroft who tried to forcefully adopt two Sudanese babies so she could use them for art. Their father saved them from her eventually. Kanye, you should be making a stand against this. You once said George Bush doesn't care about black people, well..neither does Vanessa Beecroft, she sees them as art.
I'm really incensed right now. We are no longer humans, we are mannequins to be viewed in a gallery by rich wine sipping folks.
This is shameful
allnall | March 19, 2009
kind of offensive im not gonna lie..i know it may seem progressive or w.e but wtf...im not that post racial...i find it very racist though...!!
Noelle47Killer | March 19, 2009
It is just raw thas all
holyteddybear | March 20, 2009
hi kanye
the first pic is unexpected,we want to know more,???
IT S SO DIFFERENT FROM OTHER WORKS.
I VOTE FR IT
CIAO
richizzle | March 20, 2009
i don't think people have too be so offesing about this exhibiion.
this girl is just an artist.
she just try too put out what was on her mind;
but there is a true question there.
can we in 21 century continu too make the same mistakes???
can we really like close ours eyes on what's happen in the world and just focus on art;
all around the world people are deaing because they don't have enough of food or creazy stupid war.
can we,us the country with big money still close ours frontier for those people.
can we still make so much money and let's people deaing.
richizzle | March 20, 2009
even the concept of frontier look like has been.
globalization every where.
we make ours product in there country use the poor people.
but when they came knock out too ours doors.
hin hin we sorry nobody there and go out quicly or you will have your ass kicking.
please people just think.
richizzle | March 20, 2009
this is where the change is.
i was so exiting about all happen in the world.
the election of obama and all that thing;
because i really thing that we can change that.
if we really want.
you must know that life is cyclic.that's mine that a situation never come one time.
but then if the same situation come a other time your reaction can change.
your reflection about that thing may take a upgrade
now people what do you really want for 21 century???
i fill revolutionnary on this one
ciara1989 | March 20, 2009
(Just look at the first pic)
I tried to have a meaning of the whole picture..And here is my view:
I think she wanted to illustrate the situation of today.They all wear suits but some of them don"t wear shoes...Those who don't wear shoes,don't eat either:the one who is at left seems angry,the two just next seems like desperate and aking for help like they are praying or something..And I think it shows us that the ones who don't eat,don't accept the food they were given.They were given food and suits but no platters no silverware..why?Maybe,it represents the way people see this men..like animals?Why wearing suits and giving them water and bread(symbol of "wealth") if you let us eating in this way..There is a contrast.And I think the three who don't eat on the first pic refuse to eat what they were given cause they don't accept to be corrupted,they are the resilients of the situation.
And if you know a little bit what happened in the world nowadays,you can make a link with.
ciara1989 | March 20, 2009
Maybe,she wants to tell us that it's hypocritical to give food to Africa cause "we" let us living in extrem poverty,we look and we do nothing,we(wealth country) make benefit from their situation.@richizzle made a good comment about that .The real point is:How are we seeing them for letting them in this situation?
ciara1989 | March 20, 2009
@tuesdainoelle:The salvation will be achieved through the openning of our minds...Faster we'll all understand/accept that,faster things will be changed
ciara1989 | March 20, 2009
Oh and as for the black paint on black man,I think it symbolizes his resistance as if he would reaffirms his skin color and not be ashamed by it.
ciara1989 | March 20, 2009
I've just notice an other thing:one of them don't wear shirt
JulianObubo | March 20, 2009
yo Ciara1986, all the men eat the food, the pictures dont show it. But in the course of 3 hours, all these African immigrants eat the food.
I can't believe people are trying to justify it. If u are black, will u accept to sit, shoeless in a gallery and eat chicken and bread for 3 hours in front of a foreign audience? this is degrading and racist, we must do something about it
richizzle | March 20, 2009
think you ciara,i think you touch the point.
can stay muche more working on my music shit with mister daou.
but you really put the thing out
richizzle | March 20, 2009
think you ciara i really thing you touch the point on this one.
richizzle | March 20, 2009
i really thing you touch the point ciara
Jbreezy | March 21, 2009
I had to check her website to get a better perspective. Basically she takes groups of people and either has them standing in formation or sprawled on the floor. Nothing particularly clever or insightful IMO. You have young black men and women that can't even get there foot in the door to design or showcase their art, but then see a white woman that basically says "stand there" and be lauded as some kind of art maven...GTFOH. These men were props, used to stir emotion in a very cheap way. I'm all with opening minds, but at least make a statement.
e_rich | March 24, 2009
PICASSO MADE ART SHITTY AND IT'S BEEN SHITTY EVER SINCE.