Performance Art Anthology Brings International Voices to Italian Readers

A new Italian anthology, 'Performance Art. Traiettorie ed esperienze internazionali,' edited by artist Chiara Mu and independent researcher Paolo Martore, has been published by Castelvecchi. The book features the first Italian translations of over twenty authors, more than half of whom are artists, including historical figures like Allan Kaprow, Bruce Nauman, and Ulay, as well as later artists such as Mona Hatoum, Franko B, Tania Bruguera, Kubra Kademi, and Miranda July. The texts span from the 1960s to the present, with a focus on the new millennium, aiming to update Italian critical discourse on performance art, which has previously emphasized historical Body Art. The anthology is organized around four themes: body, time, relation, and context. It includes a reflection by Philip Auslander on the live vs. recorded dichotomy, and a rare interview with Ulay discussing his individual practice and collaboration with Marina Abramović. The book encourages readers to reconsider participation beyond physical interaction and to explore the Italian performance scene.