Heaven is High and the Emporer Is Far Away: Recontexualizing Performance Art Practices in China During the 1990s

Volume 19, Number 1, January/February 2020
by Petra Poelzl


Article Description

Petra Poelzl takes us back to the beginnings of performance art in Chengdu in the 1990s and demonstrates that while Beijing was generally considered the centre of performance art, Chengdu was certainly as active. Moreover, Beijing performance, being illegal at the time, was generally hidden from public view, while in Chengdu artists and organizers managed to present it in public spaces with public participation and with little interference from the authorities, at times, even garnering their support.


Related Keywords

Petra Poelzl, performance art, Chengdu