Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge

This project focuses on the question of conservation of performance-based artworks. Being of intrinsically short duration and involving the human body, performance-based artworks challenge the common assumptions that a work of art can be fixed, static and “conservable”-an object easily constrained by the established systems of documentation and archival order. Because performance materialises only in a short temporal frame and thus refuses any enduring, material manifestation, its conservability seems beyond the bounds of possibility. As this project will demonstrate, these temporal specifics of performance-based forms are additionally complicated by the very notion of traditional conservation which too often disregards the intangible aspects of heritage conveyance: the transmission of memory, skill, technique, and tacit knowledge. Unravelling the complexities involved in the conservation of performance-based forms, this project aims to expose the theoretical and practical apparatuses of conservation, its attachment to traditional paradigms, and the resultant shortcomings in the sphere of the intangible. Taking as a starting point the necessity for conservators to access and deepen this area of study, the proposed project sets out to accomplish three principal aims: (i) Using selected examples of institutions and artworks, the project will review and systematise emerging approaches to the newly established subfield of the conservation of performance-based artworks.(ii) In order to ensure that these works are preserved and accessible in the future, this project will also explore new methods for conserving performance-based works through (a) forms of documentation and archives, (b) material residues and (c) the transmission of knowledge. (iii) Building on such a focus, the project will reflect on conservation as a knowledge-generating activity and test its potential contribution to broader discourses in performance studies, anthropology, art history and aesthetics.

Id198
Grant Value702
Commencement Date / Completion Date1 October 2022 - UNSPECIFIED
Contributors Prof Dr Hanna Barbara Hölling (Principle Investigator)
Funders [UNSPECIFIED] Swiss National Science Foundation
URIhttps://performanceconservationmaterialityknowledge.com/two-questions/
Keywordsperformance, heritage, preservation, conservation, short duration, event, documentation, archive, knowledge, memory
Publications Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Feldman, Julia Pelta; Ribeiro, Felipe; Diagne, Mariama; Lasica, Shelley (24 May 2022). The Afterlives of Performance - Keynote. With response by Jules Pelta Feldman, followed by a panel discussion with Mariama Diagne, Shelley Lasica and Felipe Ribeiro In: New School, Something Great. Berlin: New School, Something Great
Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Feldman, Julia Pelta; Magnin, Emilie; Maly, Valerian (10 June 2022). Performance: Four Perspectives - A panel by/with Hanna B. Hölling, Jules Pelta Feldman, Emilie Magnin and Valerian Maly In: Revolving Documents #1: Narrations of the Beginnings of Performance Art - BANG BANG translocal hi:stories of performance art. Basel: Museum Tinguely
Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Feldman, Julia Pelta; Magnin, Emilie; Wielocha, Aga (30 September 2022). Conserving Performance: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Second Annual Colloquium organized by SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge, Bern University of the Arts. In: Conserving Performance: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Bern, Online: Bern University of the Arts
Schäffler, Anna; Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Wielocha, Aga; Feldman, Julia Pelta; Magnin, Emilie (21 December 2022). Anna Schäffler: The Art of Preservation. An invited lecture and a panel discussion jointly organized by SNSF Activating Fluxus and SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge within the Research Wednesday seminar series, Bern University of the Arts In: Research Wednesday seminar series. Bern University of the Arts. 21 December 2022.
Auslander, Philip; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2022). Two Questions: Philip Auslander, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions. Bern: SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge
Bodor, Judit; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2021). Two Questions: Judit Bodor, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions. Bern: SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge
Dupré, Sven; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2022). Two Questions: Sven Dupré, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions. Bern: SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge
Gordon, Rebecca; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2022). Two Questions: Rebecca Gordon, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions. Bern: SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge
Higgings, Hannah B.; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2022). Two Questions: Hannah B Higgins, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions. Bern: SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge
Rivenc, Rachel; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2022). Two Questions: Rachel Rivenc, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions. Bern: SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge
Sunde, Sarah Cameron; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2022). Two Questions: Sarah Cameron Sunde, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions. Bern: SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge
Turner, Kay; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2022). Two Questions: Kay Turner, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions. Bern: SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge
Wharton, Glenn; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2022). Two Questions: Glenn Wharton, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions. Bern: SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge
Gusman, Tancredi; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2022). Two Questions: Tancredi Gusman, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions. Bern: SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge
Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Pelta Feldman, Jules; Magnin, Emilie (eds.) (2023). Performance: The Ethics and the Politics of Conservation and Care, Volume I Routledge Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies. London and New York: Taylor & Francis 10.4324/9781003309987
Smith, Cauleen; Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Pelta Feldman, Jules (2023). Potential Afterlives: Cauleen Smith on the Relation of Film and Performance In: Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Pelta Feldman, Jules; Magnin, Emilie (eds.) Performance: The Ethics and the Politics of Care, Volume I (pp. 293-304). London and New York: Taylor & Francis
Helio, Eléonore; Ekeba, MIchel; Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Magnin, Emilie; Badcock, Jacob; Maly, Valerian (2023). Performing the ‘Mask:’ Kongo Astronauts (Eléonore Hellio and Michel Ekeba) on Postcolonial Entanglements In: Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Pelta Feldman, Jules; Magnin, Emilie (eds.) Performance: The Ethics and the Politics of Conservation and Care: Volume 1 (pp. 200-216). London and New York: Taylor & Francis
Morgan, Kelli; Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Pelta Feldman, Jules; Magnin, Emilie (2023). Peeling the Paint off the Walls: Kelli Morgan on Black Performance and Racial Justice in Western Institutions In: Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Pelta Feldman, Jules; Magnin, Emilie (eds.) Performance: The Ethics and the Politics of Conservation and Care: Volume 1. Routledge Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies (pp. 188-199). London and New York: Taylor & Francis
Shadreck, Chirikure; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2023). Innovation and Preservation: Shadreck Chirikure on the Performance of Heritage In: Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Pelta Feldman, Jules; Magnin, Emilie (eds.) Performance: The Ethics and the Politics of Conservation and Care: Volume 1 (pp. 113-120). London and New York: Taylor & Francis
Schneider, Rebecca; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2023). Not, Yet: When Our Art is in our Hands: Rebecca Schneider, with Antiphonal Interludes by Hanna B. Hölling In: Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Pelta Feldman, Jules; Magnin, Emilie (eds.) Performance: The Ethics and the Politics of Conservation and Care: Volume 1 (pp. 50-69). London and New York: Taylor & Francis
Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Pelta Feldman, Jules; Magnin, Emilie (2023). Introduction: Caring for Performance In: Performance: The Ethics and the Politics of Conservation and Care: Volume 1. Routledge Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies (pp. 1-20). London and New York: Taylor & Francis 10.4324/9781003309987-1
Asperska, Julia; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2023). Two Questions: Julia Asperska, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions. Bern: SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge
Irvin, Sherri; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2023). Two Questions: Sherri Irvin, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions. Bern: Berner Fachhochschule, Hochschule der Künste / SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge
Feder, Ido; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2023). Two Questions: Ido Feder, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions. Bern: Berner Fachhochschule, Hochschule der Künste / SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge
Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Higgins, Hannah; Zinman, Gregory; Gyorody, Andrea; Metcalf, Megan; Pelta Feldman, Jules (22 February 2023). Book Presentation: Object—Event—Performance: Art, Materiality and Continuity since the 1960s In: Research Wednesday Seminar Series. Bern/Online. 22 February 2023.
Hölling, Hanna Barbara; Pelta Feldman, Jules; Magnin, Emilie; Falsnaes, Christian; Feder, Ido; Gaweda, Dorota; Grau, Pascale; Raymond, Rosanna; Sanvy, Davide-Christelle; (16 May 2023). Conserving Performance: Artists Speak - Third Annual Colloquium In: Third Annual Colloquium. Bern/Online. 16 May 2023.
Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2023). Urmimala Sarkar Munsi: On Dance and Preservation in India Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge - Writing, pp. 1-8. SNSF Performance, Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge / Berner Fachhochschule, Hochschule der Künste. performanceconservationmaterialityknowledge.com
Hölling, Hanna Barbara (21 December 2021). Conserving Ourselves, Creating Ourselves: Thinking with the Philosopher Alva Noë Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge - Writing, pp. 1-9. SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge / Berner Fachhochschule, Hochschule der Künste. performanceconservationmaterialityknowledge.com
Hölling, Hanna Barbara (23 March 2021). On the Continuity of Practice in Florian Feigl’s work Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge - Writing, pp. 1-6. Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge / Berner Fachhochschule, Hochschule der Künste. performanceconservationmaterialityknowledge.com
Lesnierowska, Joanna; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2023). Two Questions: Joanna Lesnierowska, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions, SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge. Bern. Oktober 2023
Ribeiro, Felipe; Hölling, Hanna Barbara (2023). Two Questions: Felipe Ribeiro, in conversation with Hanna Hölling [Movie]. In: Two Questions, SNSF Performance: Conservation, Materiality, Knowledge. Bern. November 2023
Hölling, Hanna Barbara (14 October 2023). Keynote: Can Performance Be Conserved? An Introduction to a Contested Field In: VII CONGRESSO ANDA # 2023. Braslia. 11, 12, 13 e 14 de outubro de 2023.
Hölling, Hanna Barbara (17 October 2023). What Does it Mean to Conserve Performance? Two Day Workshop In: Musealização da Arte: Poéticas Em Narrativas. Brasilia. October 17, 2023.
Hölling, Hanna Barbara (17 October 2023). Invited lecture: Curating and Conserving Changeability In: Federal University of Brasilia Lecture Series. Brasilia. October 17, 2023.

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
Provide Feedback