Summoning the Ghost of Bas Jan Ader
Intention: To attempt to summon the ghost of artist, Bas Jan Ader through a series of simultaneous symbolic actions in a public transient space (on sidewalk near post office).
To engage in the action of suspending the liminal state by sustaining a gesture of my own body frozen in free fall
To activate the concept of time as a flow of water*
Action 1: Embody Bas Jan Ader’s appearance.
Action 2: Hide soft sound in a plant.
Action 3: Hide soft sound in another plant.
Action 4: Hold water in mouth.
Action 5: Ride bicycle towards a group of people walking down the street. When we meet, allow bicycle to fall.
Action 6: Hang from tree branch
Action 7: Look up to the sky
Action 8: When arms tire, release body from the tree.
Action 9: Pick up fallen bicycle and balance on it.
Action 10: Reveal a small sailboat from pocket. Sink the sailboat in mouth.
Action 11: Once the sailboat has disappeared, ride bicycle off into the night.
Action 12: Decide to stop. Wait for group of people to arrive.
Action 13: When they do, release the mouthful of water as slowly.
Action 14: Once all the water has been released, ride bicycle off into the night.
performed on October 31, 2014
location: Central Square, Cambridge, MA
duration: 30 minutes
photos by Daniel DeLuca