When the dancers have gone

Oiticica’s Instructions

Aidrian Duncan and NCAD with IMMA
Performance at IMMA, Dublin. 2014

Brazilian artist Helio Oiticica, 1937-1980, used Parangolés as experimental positions. The artist took colour and directed its movement, to a limited degree, within space. With the artist ensuring the involvement of the viewer, it was no longer possible to separate the work from the audience/participants.

In 2014 Deirdre Kearney together with other participants created Parangoles to be used in a performance “Oiticicas’ Instructions” curated by Aidrian Duncan, N.C.A.D, IMMA and Projecto Helio Oiticica. This was held at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Kilmainham to coincide with the exhibition “Propositions” which presented the work of Helio Oiticica.

This performative action was intended to exist only as a retinal trace for both artist and audience. It is the ephemeral watermark left, in space, when the dancers have gone.