Diary #24

KONINKLIJK CONSERVATORIUM, 1997 — This was after I left the graduate dance program and had transferred to new media. I asked some of the male dance faculty at Koninklijk to do these pieces with me. As you can see, I’m facing the faculty member in a chair with the camera behind me and the faculty member has the cable release for the camera in his hand. It’s a sort of formalized striptease, I start fully clothed and then just take stuff off one piece at a time. The faculty member clicks the shutter whenever he wants, and that ends the performance. So, as you see here, some clicked right away, others waited a lot longer.

The ones who were willing to be in this were all really generous to do so. Still, you do see different sorts of power relationships. For sure the response ranged from embarrassed to taking pleasure in it. Just like all the players in the art world, you can see the self-impression and expression of power.

THE HAGUE, 2012 — It seems like the older I get the less nerve I have. I remember doing these photos and at the time not really thinking it was a big deal. I look at them today and just think, wow, I really did that!? I guess I was pretty cheeky in my day.