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Just as water in the river
swift and transient

Place can be seen as simultaneously real, imagined and symbolic. Lefebvre says, "a discourse on space implies a truth of space, and these must derive not from a location within a space, but rather from a place imaginary and real - and hence 'surreal', yet concrete. And yes conceptual also". (Pile's. 1996, The Body and the City, London: Routledge.)

The performances in Vienna are part of a series that aim to bring attention to the ephemeral quality of the object and its site, providing pauses for contemplation of our daily existence in a capitalist space. The performances last 8 to 12 hours suggesting the time spent working everyday. The colour red represents prosperity for the Chinese. The performances revolve round the significance of transition and transience, proposing that the body is not just its physical space. It is made up of both body and mind, has the ability to create space and give meaning to space and therefore implicates its temporalities. It is in constant transition from one thought to another. The performing body in situ aims to extend notions of the present, with the knowledge of its temporalities, and hence the importance of making not just spaces with meaning, but meaningful spaces.

Evelyn Chen was born in Singapore and currently lives in Melbourne.

Evlelyn Chen