eo. THE ARTIST IS PRESENT BY MANOJ NAIR PERFORMANCE ART IN INDIA MIGHT STILL BE AT A NASCENT STAGE, BUT THE SHEER VARIETY IT THROWS UP IS A CLEAR INDICATION OF THE NEED FOR ARTISTS TO ENGAGE DIRECTLY WITH THE AUDIENCE AND THE NEED FOR THE AUDIENCE TO BECOME PART OF THE ART-MAKING PROCESS “EXCUSE ME, CAN YOU DEFINE PERFORMANCE ART?” "A BUNCH OF WEIRDOS WHO LOVE TO GET NAKED AND SCREAM ABOUT LEFTIST POLITICS.” (Yuppie in a bar) PERFORMANCE ARTISTS ARE... BAD ACTORS. (A “a000" actor) "YOU MEAN, THOSE DECADENT AND ELITIST LIBERALS WHO HIDE BEHIND THE ART THING TO BEG FOR GOVERNMENT MONEY?" (Politician) I'S... JUST.. VERY, VERY COOL STUFF. MAKES YOU... THINK AND SHIT: (My nephew) "PERFORMANCE IS BOTH THE ANTI-THESIS OF AND THE ANTIDOTE TO HIGH CULTURE.” (Performance Artist) VLL ANSWER YOU WITH A JOKE: WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN-YOU MIX A COMEDIAN WITH A PERFORMANCE ARTIST?... A JOKE THAT NO ONE UNDERSTANDS.” A friend) — GUILLERMO GOMEZ-PENA, IN DEFENCE OF PERFORMANCE ART 74 STS IMLSTRAED | ANS an |