New York's Performa biennial has announced a last-minute postponement for Lina Lapelytė's anticipated work, 'The Speech (NYC)'. The piece, which was set to feature 100 children creating primal sounds, faced an unexpected delay due to the ongoing government shutdown. Its original venue, the Federal Hall National Memorial, remains closed as it falls under the jurisdiction of the National Parks Service.
Key Takeaways
- Lina Lapelytė's 'The Speech (NYC)' has been postponed.
- The government shutdown forced the closure of Federal Hall, the intended venue.
- The work involves 100 children making primal sounds.
- Performa has rescheduled the performance for November 17.
- Lapelytė is a Golden Lion winner from the 2019 Venice Biennale.
Government Shutdown Impacts Cultural Events
The postponement highlights the far-reaching effects of government closures on cultural institutions. Federal Hall, a site of significant American history, is just one of many federally managed venues currently inaccessible to the public. This includes major institutions like the Smithsonian museums and the National Gallery of Art.
The decision to postpone came with only one day remaining before the scheduled debut. This sudden change forced Performa organizers to seek an alternative location for the performance.
Fast Fact
The Federal Hall National Memorial served as the first capitol building of the United States. It was here that George Washington took his oath of office in 1789.
'The Speech (NYC)' Explores Primal Sounds
Lina Lapelytė's 'The Speech (NYC)' is a new iteration of a work previously presented in European venues, including Paris's Bourse de Commerce. The performance is designed to explore the fundamental aspects of human vocalization.
It features 100 children engaging in a range of non-verbal expressions. These include various 'primal sounds,' such as coos, cries, barks, howls, and roars. The piece aims to connect with the raw, unfiltered essence of human communication.
"Our original venue, Federal Hall, a historic site of American democracy where oaths were once sworn and voices first rose to shape a nation, remains closed at this time, under the management of the National Park Service," Performa stated. "We are working with colleagues around the city to confirm a new venue, and will share updates as soon as we have them."
Lapelytė's Acclaimed Artistic Background
Lina Lapelytė is a highly regarded artist in the international contemporary art scene. She gained significant recognition for her work at the 2019 Venice Biennale.
Her opera, presented at the Lithuanian Pavilion, earned her the prestigious Golden Lion award. She shared this honor with collaborators Vaiva Grainytė and Rugilė Barzdžiukaitė. This background underscores the importance of her participation in the Performa biennial.
About Performa Biennial
Performa is a leading organization dedicated to live performance art. Since its inception, it has presented biennials that showcase new performance works by artists from around the globe. The biennial serves as a platform for challenging conventional art forms and fostering experimental artistic expression.
Rescheduled Performance and Other Biennial Highlights
Despite the initial setback, Performa has acted quickly to reschedule the performance. 'The Speech (NYC)' is now slated to debut on November 17. Organizers are currently working to secure a suitable new venue within New York City.
Lapelytė's piece is one of eight new works commissioned for this year's biennial. The program features a diverse array of artists, including Ayoung Kim, Camille Henrot, and the duo Pakui Hardware. Pakui Hardware also previously represented Lithuania at the Venice Biennale, similar to Lapelytė.
The Performa biennial continues to be a vital platform for showcasing innovative and thought-provoking performance art. The organizers remain committed to bringing these important cultural experiences to the public, even in the face of unforeseen challenges.