ULAY German, 1943-2020
Performing light, 2019
Photograph, unique
250 x 124 cm
Performed Wednesday 9th January, 2019, at Richard Saltoun Gallery, London. Ulay blacked out the room, lay on a sheet of photo-sensitive paper, and the audience members stood above him, arms...
Performed Wednesday 9th January, 2019, at Richard Saltoun Gallery, London.
Ulay blacked out the room, lay on a sheet of photo-sensitive paper, and the audience members stood above him, arms stretched out as though pulling him up and out of the abyss. His assistant took a photograph, using a Polaroid camera, the flash "exposing" the image of Ulay's body onto the paper. The paper was then installed on the wall and his assistant, Peter, washed the photographic paper in front of us, to reveal the photogram.
Link to a video of the performance: https://vimeo.com/310659165/4c4816aa93
This photogram is part of a larger series of work, using his own body as well as that of audience members, to create life-size photograms. Previous works from the series include: 5 Greek Men (2008); Family at 4 o’clock (2007); and Ulay Life-Sized (2000).
Ulay blacked out the room, lay on a sheet of photo-sensitive paper, and the audience members stood above him, arms stretched out as though pulling him up and out of the abyss. His assistant took a photograph, using a Polaroid camera, the flash "exposing" the image of Ulay's body onto the paper. The paper was then installed on the wall and his assistant, Peter, washed the photographic paper in front of us, to reveal the photogram.
Link to a video of the performance: https://vimeo.com/310659165/4c4816aa93
This photogram is part of a larger series of work, using his own body as well as that of audience members, to create life-size photograms. Previous works from the series include: 5 Greek Men (2008); Family at 4 o’clock (2007); and Ulay Life-Sized (2000).
Exhibitions
Ulay was here, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 21 November 2020 - 30 May 20211
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