Ragnar Kjartansson, Bliss, 2011. A Performa Commission
Photo: Paula Court. Courtesy of Performa.

Last night as part of Performa 11, Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson presented Bliss a performance which endured for 12 hours. The same critical moment of opera was on loop and performed over and over as costumed members of a select group changed positions during each individual 2-minute session, re-enacting a scene from Mozart’s1786 Opera The Marriage of Figaro. A live orchestra was present and each note was repeated reminding us, the audience, of time, error, movement, technology, rehearsal, art and magic. The group of actors/performers were trained opera singers from Iceland and along with the artist, were present on stage for the duration of Bliss and continued to repeat the musical selection from Noon until Midnight, approaching a harmonic however chaotic, state of apotheosis.

A clip from Ragnar Kjartansson: BLISS

at Abrons Art Center, NY, November 19th, 2011, part of Performa 11.

Ragnar Kjartansson, still from previous performance
Image courtesy of Visir and the artist
I observed and relished the performance from 9:45 until Midnight and then was invited by New York Magazine Art Critic Jerry Saltz backstage and had the opportunity to congratulate the artist along with the extremely talented singers and musicians in person. Performa 11 has been fabulous this year and I hope if in New York, you’ve had a chance to attend some or several of the events!
Ragnar Kjartansson, Bliss, 2011. A Performa Commission
Photo: Paula Court. Courtesy of Performa.
Please play the above clip, although not of the highest quality, as many times as possible.
UPDATE: Congratulations to Ragnar Kjartansson for receiving the Malcolm McLaren Award for Bliss through Performa 11! Well deserved!!
More soon.
xo