What is Performance Art?!

Performance Art refers to a performance which is presented to an audience but doesn't seek to present a conventional play or a formal narrative, and doesn't seek to depict a set of characters in formal scripted interactions.  It is said that performance art often breaks the fourth wall, meaning the performance artist doesn't seek to behave as if they are unaware of the audience.  

The performance art shown above is very interesting to me.  It seems as though these people are covered in tin foil, plastic wrap and pretty much anything they can find to cover their bodies.  They are putting on a performance for a random group of people on the streets of Dumbo, NYC, Brooklyn.  This was actually just one of the performances given during this street festival.  There were also performances such as a girl sitting in a tub, an elephant who apparently is always at this festival every year and many other performances throughout the day are given to the people attending the festival.

This festival in NYC is just one example of performance art specials that are given throughout the year.  I know when I go to NYC i often see people dancing on sidewalks to people walking by or people playing instruments, etc.  I never thought of things like this as art until after I researched about this, but now i can definitely understand how this is art.  It's people expressing their emotions, lives, and talents in the ways that they know how to.