Market Stall Performance, Venice.

‘Market Stall Performance, Venice.International Performance Artists were invited by Jonas Stampe, Andrea Pagnes & Verena Stenke - (Vest & Page), to make Performance Artworks at the time of the 2011 Venice Biennial Opening. I was one of the many artists to arrive in Venice, to research specific locations in the city and then make site-specific performance works.I choose a location close to the Rialto Bridge in Venice, on the street outside Bar Muro and adjacent to other street traders and cafés. I performed in this location for apprx. 5 hours all the while interacting with the passing public and tourists.The Market Stall Performance strategy has evolved over many years now and has been performed in many countries. I established it n the mid 1990’s as an ‘Interactive & Participatory Performance’ within which I try to sell my ‘wares’ in public trading places, i.e. Market Squares etc. Within the performance I try to engage the public through subtle and satirical humor and surreal imagery, within the various processes and potential transactions offered at my stall. These include ‘Countries for Sale’, Centimeters for sale in an edition of 1/100, Second Hand Teeth, Moon for sale, a NATO Darts Game, Virtual Reality Goggles, Star Map Umbrella, etc.On this occasion I developed a new ‘product’, which I entitled ‘Aqua Alta Tins’. These were a set of large tins with strings attached, devised to enable the participant to stand on them and walk, (like stilts). They were decorated with an image of the Rialto Bridge and the title: ‘Aqua Alta Tins’. Aqua Alta is the name given to high water in Venice and when the city floods. The tins were devised as a humorous response to human futility in the face of Climate Change and rising sea levels.