Zhang Huan and Stelarc: Natural purism vs. technology
Zhang Huan’s work was, in my opinion, constructed with a single central focus: the revelation of the sacred in the human body, and an homage to the diversity of its potential. Through widespread nudity, a variety of facial contortion, and feats of incredible endurance, Zhang Huan demonstrated the tremendous power contained in the body, as well as illuminating the many possible aspects of its character. Another strong theme throughout the exhibit was the exercise of control, the mastering of the self and the environment. Here Zhang Huan’s Buddhist heritage was clearly visible; one of the central tenets of Buddhism is the attainment of control over the self, and knowledge of ones own being. Through such feats as lying on a block of ice, Zhang Huan demonstrates control over his own body, while in raising the height of a mountain or a body of water he shows a similar control over his surroundings. Overall, the main focus of the exhibit was a tribute to the enormous power and potential for mastery naturally contained within the human body and mind.
The Australian performance artist Stelios Arcadiou, or Stelarc, as he is known, in many ways embodies the opposite of the Zhang Huan ideal. Stelarc’s work focuses on the concept that “the human body is obsolete.” He purports to demonstrate through his performances the possibility and necessity of extending the capabilities of the human body through the application of technology. His pieces include performances with an extra robotic hand, an extra arm, and a six-legged walking machine controlled by arm movements. At one point he hooked himself up to electronic muscle stimulators connected to the internet and allowed a worldwide audience to log on and control his movements through the electrodes. While I do not agree that the human body is obsolete, I do admit to the possibility of technological improvement if properly administered.
I cannot think of any performance art piece that would be specifically appropriate to the present time, but if I think of anything I’ll write it up.