A durational performance on the limits of balance, of strength, of control.
I was surprised on my arrival to Concepción that I did not see more evidence of the previous spring’s earthquake. I had seen images online, and expected to see more buildings in collapse. But then I was shown the caution tape restricting entrance to buildings that had cracked walls and broken foundations. When I walked downtown the next morning, I looked up to see a high rise building folding in on itself. And then I realized that the evidence was under my feet: every sidewalk had buckled, and nearly all were pitched and broken. You had to take every step carefully, in order not to trip or fall.
The Alliance Française was one of the organizations that provided space for the events of the festival. The performances took place in the relatively new addition at the back of a much older colonial building. The older building was roped off, because the walls had cracked in the earthquake.
For my performance, I stood just inside the roped-off area in the front courtyard. Next to me was a table of household goods: pots, pans, dishes, cups, saucers, glasses, pillows, books, and toys. On the table was a sign which read, “Por favor agregue un objeto a mi mano,” [Please add an item to my hand.]
People stacked the objects carefully, one by one, higher and higher. I concentrated on keeping them balanced, which became more difficult as the stack became taller and heavier. And as the time went on, my arm muscles grew more tired and less steady. Eventually, it was impossible for me to keep the objects balanced, and they crashed to the ground, dishes and glasses shattering. We began again.
The public passing by on the street watched from the sidewalk or came into the courtyard to participate. Some people sorted through the rubble, finding objects that had not broken or were only dented so that they could be used again. But finally, after several hours, there was nothing left.
