ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Performance Pioneers: Vito Acconci and Others in New Interview Collection

publication · 2026-04-23

A new volume titled "Les grands entretiens : La performance 1. Le corps exposé" compiles interviews with pioneers of performance art, including Vito Acconci, Bruce Nauman, Allan Kaprow, and Jean Dupuy. The book explores how performance emerged in the early 1960s as a reaction against Minimal and Conceptual art, drawing from dance and theater. It covers diverse practices such as happenings, environments, and body art, highlighting improvisation, public participation, and extended durations. The interviews aim to contextualize performance historically and showcase its creative vitality.

Key facts

  • Volume titled 'Les grands entretiens : La performance 1. Le corps exposé'
  • Features interviews with Vito Acconci, Bruce Nauman, Allan Kaprow, Jean Dupuy
  • Performance art emerged in early 1960s as reaction to Minimal and Conceptual art
  • Derived from dance and theater
  • Covers happenings, environments, body art
  • Emphasizes improvisation, public participation, extended durations
  • Published by artpress

Entities

Artists

  • Vito Acconci
  • Bruce Nauman
  • Allan Kaprow
  • Jean Dupuy

Institutions

  • artpress

Sources