A performance is a stage representation that is provocative or impactful.
The term performance is not part of the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) . However, we could establish that this term is an anglicism that has been formed from the verb perform , which can be translated as "to act or interpret." The word, in any case, is very common to name a certain show or stage performance that is usually based on provocation .
The origin of this type of artistic and cultural manifestation can be found in the early 20th century, as it was then that certain figures linked to the futurist movement created trends by betting on other peculiar ways of showing their ideas, their emotions and their way of understanding art. However, it was not until the 1960s when performance art began to gain greater relevance internationally.
Among the many themes that can be addressed through these cultural manifestations, those that have had the greatest prominence throughout history have been love, fear, loneliness, human cruelty, nature, the evolution of the universe... All of them have been shown and presented through acrobatics, painting, theatre or choreography, among other alternatives.
What is a performance
A performance, therefore, attempts to surprise the public either by its subject matter or by its aesthetics. This type of action is linked to improvisation , conceptual art and happenings (artistic manifestations that involve the participation of the public).
For example: "An amazing performance by the visual artist amazed museum visitors" , "The painter promised to perform a live performance, where he will create works with organic materials" , "The musician's failed performance earned him numerous criticisms" .
The idea of performance can refer to the performance of an athlete.
Main features
One of the most important characteristics of a performance is that it takes place in a specific place for a specific time. A performance is carried out live and exists while the artist is making his proposal, unlike a traditional exhibition .
Sometimes, the most important thing about a performance is not its content, but the place where it takes place. There are artists who develop performances in public spaces or who improvise artistic demonstrations in places that are unusual for art , such as a supermarket or a video game store.
Beuys and Nitsch's performances and flashmobs
There are many figures who are considered to have become icons in the world of performance. However, among them all, the German Joseph Beuys stands out significantly, who showed his artistic qualities by using elements such as animals, paper or straw, among others.
Also worth mentioning is Hermann Nitsch, an Austrian artist who has achieved worldwide fame for his provocative works. He does not hesitate to include various ancestral rituals in them that are described as wild.
Some people consider flash mobs to be performances, although they have no artistic intention. They are groups that carry out an organised action in a public place, doing something unusual (such as a pillow fight or giving out free hugs). Sometimes flash mobs have a political purpose.
Synonym of performance
The notion of performance is also often linked to efficiency . An athlete can have a good or bad performance depending on his performance.
"The athlete had a great performance in the last competition" is an expression that shows this type of use of the concept.