Photo credits: Colleen Alborough

Date: 2008, Medium: Public performance, Duration: 4 hours, 30min.

This work was commissioned for the group exhibtion “.ZA: Giovanni Arte dal Sudafrica” held in early 2008 at the Pallazo delle Papesse, Sienna (Italy) and curated by Lorenzo Fusi, Kendell Geers, Marlene Dumas, Sue Williamson, Minette Vari and Berni Searle.

During the course of 4 hours a physical action was repeated approximately 200 times: Two figures added motor oil and crushed glass respectively onto the artists back, with the artist then raising his body and arms from a kneeling, prayer like position. This physical gesture closely resembled that of the act of surrender, of waving (in greeting or in celebration) or of an individual caught in the throes of spiritual ecstasy. The sequence of events was repeated with machine-like precision, never halting or changing until the large pile of glass was finished.

Below is a short video clip of the work and you can listen to a radio interview with the artist about the work and the show by Clicking Here (link opens in a new window)