2011 » Chile » Architecture Section

Curator:	Rodrigo Tisi
Authors of Theme:	Random Performers , Regular Workers and Citizens
Designer / Architect of exhibition:	Rodrigo Tisi, Javier Rioseco
Institution:	DIRAC (Dirección de Cultura Cancillería de Chile)

Cheap Tickets (for popular spectacles)

In Chile, as in many other countries, we have unknown performers who tend to work in unconventional spaces and for only few coins (if they make any money at all). There are also persons who unsuspectingly become performers through spontaneous performances that fall outside conventional theatre. The selection of artists in Cheap Tickets corresponds to this marginal group of “performers”, who do not conform to conventional theatre practices. Now, one could ask: what has architecture to do with all of this? Everything. Architecture is principally concerned with space. The main curatorial aspect of this selection relates to unconventional spaces where unconventional “performance” (in scenic terms) takes place. We are highlighting the importance of marginalised individuals who appear “like” performers on the many stages found in daily life, which help us experience our life, our city and the social, economic and political contexts surrounding us. Unconventional street performances by “unknown” performers reveal unconventional theatre architectures, which test the boundaries between the viewers and the viewed. In “Cheap Tickets”, we have also considered recent major events in Chile; the earthquake and the rescue of trapped miners, which expose how the everyday world represents a continuous stage for performance. Our exhibition is composed of two videos – "Survival Acts" and "Hyper-public" – where the boundaries between performers and spectators are blurred. In Chile, as in many other countries, we have unknown performers who tend to work in unconventional spaces and for only few coins (if they make any money at all). There are also persons who unsuspectingly become performers through spontaneous performances that fall outside conventional theatre. The selection of artists in Cheap Tickets corresponds to this marginal group of “performers”, who do not conform to conventional theatre practices. Now, one could ask: what has architecture to do with all of this? Everything. Architecture is principally concerned with space. The main curatorial aspect of this selection relates to unconventional spaces where unconventional “performance” (in scenic terms) takes place. We are highlighting the importance of marginalised individuals who appear “like” performers on the many stages found in daily life, which help us experience our life, our city and the social, economic and political contexts surrounding us. Unconventional street performances by “unknown” performers reveal unconventional theatre architectures, which test the boundaries between the viewers and the viewed. In Cheap Tickets, we have also considered recent major events in Chile; the earthquake and the rescue of trapped miners, which expose how the everyday world represents a continuous stage for performance. Our exhibition is composed of two videos – Survival Acts and Hyper-public – where the boundaries between performers and spectators are blurred. We want to thank the performers, workers and regular citizens that contributed to the videos of this exhibition. We also want to acknowledge the generous support of DIRAC (Dirección de Cultura Cancillería de Chile).