Performances
Zapatos Rojos & The Law of Conservation of Mass: Luke, Leia, & Lilith - Mar. 2018
Performed at OPEN Center for the Arts for "Selves: Women's Exhibition"
The Law of Conservation of Mass: Luke, Leia, & Lilith - Mar. 2018
Gold Rush - Aug. 2017
Gold Rush & The Birds and The Bees - Jun. 2017
Interview on 91.1 Vocalo Radio with Rocio Santos for the Mujeres Con Power series.
Water Cycle & The Birds and The Bees - Jun. 2017
Gold Rush - April 2016
4 Mins.
Filmed by El BeiSMan
Filmed by El BeiSMan
No More Hashtags - Aug. 2016
#FAHashtag - Apr. 2016
20 Mins.
Collaboration with Darius Thomas
Performed at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Photographs by Pratyush Swarup Art and Photography
Collaboration with Darius Thomas
Performed at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Photographs by Pratyush Swarup Art and Photography
Hot Topic - Jun. 2015
The Imaginary Center of Perception - Jul. 2015
Notes on Empty Chairs (Part 3) - May 2015
1 Hour
Facilitated by Kirsten Leenaars
Performed at The Museum of Contemporary Art
Camera: Paul Deuth
Facilitated by Kirsten Leenaars
Performed at The Museum of Contemporary Art
Camera: Paul Deuth
From Kirsten Leenaars:
Taking place over three Tuesday evenings, Notes on Empty Chairs is a series of three interactive performances by Chicago-based artist Kirsten Leenaars, with assistance of Lindsey Barlag, that explore themes of empathy, loss, and remembrance in response to the exhibition Doris Salcedo. The performances are cumulative and collaboratively developed with Chicago community members.
This third performance, Notes on Empty Chairs (part 3), responds to Cathy Park Hong’s recent essay “Against Witness”. This essay about Salcedo’s work was commissioned on the occasion of the Doris Salcedo exhibition and published in the May 2015 issue of Poetry. Through a poetic performance involving spoken word derived from original transcripts of eye witness accounts, sound and choreographed movement, Notes on Empty Chairs (part 3) explores the act of witnessing today in light of such recent events in America as the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Freddie Gray.
The performers for Notes on Empty Chairs (part 3) include: Marvin Tate, Matthew Robinson, Regin Iglora, Kim Chayeb, Monica Brown, Wa Chontong, Toni Zhao, Opel Smittinet, Valentina Vella, Alison Auwerda. Kekeli Kodzo Sumah, Jose Perez. Drummer: Dan Bitney
Taking place over three Tuesday evenings, Notes on Empty Chairs is a series of three interactive performances by Chicago-based artist Kirsten Leenaars, with assistance of Lindsey Barlag, that explore themes of empathy, loss, and remembrance in response to the exhibition Doris Salcedo. The performances are cumulative and collaboratively developed with Chicago community members.
This third performance, Notes on Empty Chairs (part 3), responds to Cathy Park Hong’s recent essay “Against Witness”. This essay about Salcedo’s work was commissioned on the occasion of the Doris Salcedo exhibition and published in the May 2015 issue of Poetry. Through a poetic performance involving spoken word derived from original transcripts of eye witness accounts, sound and choreographed movement, Notes on Empty Chairs (part 3) explores the act of witnessing today in light of such recent events in America as the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Freddie Gray.
The performers for Notes on Empty Chairs (part 3) include: Marvin Tate, Matthew Robinson, Regin Iglora, Kim Chayeb, Monica Brown, Wa Chontong, Toni Zhao, Opel Smittinet, Valentina Vella, Alison Auwerda. Kekeli Kodzo Sumah, Jose Perez. Drummer: Dan Bitney
Notes on Empty Chairs (Part 2) - Apr. 2015
1 Hour
Facilitated by Kirsten Leenaars
Performed at The Museum of Contemporary Art
Camera: Paul Deuth
Facilitated by Kirsten Leenaars
Performed at The Museum of Contemporary Art
Camera: Paul Deuth
From Kirsten Leenaars:
Taking place over three Tuesday evenings at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago “Notes on Empty Chairs” is a series of three one hour performances by Chicago-based artist Kirsten Leenaars, with assistance of Lindsey Barlag, that explore themes of empathy, loss, and remembrance in response to the exhibition Doris Salcedo. The performances are cumulative and -collaboratively developed with local community groups. The performances will take place on March 24, April 14 and May 19, 2015, 6-7 pm.
This second performance, “Notes on Empty Chairs” (part 2), performed on April 14, 2015, responds to the terms absence and presence. Both describe fundamental states of being. Through a simple choreography in relationship to Salcedo’s installations the performers explore the notion that a body in totality is much more than a physical presence. Whether representing, presenting, or standing-in, the performers negotiate what it means to occupy or create a space, as subject or object. The human body is not a concept. It is irreplaceable.
The performers for "Notes on Empty Chairs" (part 2) include: Marvin Tate, Matthew Robinson, Regin Iglora, Kim Chayeb, Udita Upadhyaya, Sonia Yoon, Melina Ausikaitis, Christopher Guidotti, Christopher Gambino, Soheila Sima Azida, Valentina Vella, Alex Main, Alexis Atwill, Alison Auwerda. Drummer: Dan Bitney.
Taking place over three Tuesday evenings at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago “Notes on Empty Chairs” is a series of three one hour performances by Chicago-based artist Kirsten Leenaars, with assistance of Lindsey Barlag, that explore themes of empathy, loss, and remembrance in response to the exhibition Doris Salcedo. The performances are cumulative and -collaboratively developed with local community groups. The performances will take place on March 24, April 14 and May 19, 2015, 6-7 pm.
This second performance, “Notes on Empty Chairs” (part 2), performed on April 14, 2015, responds to the terms absence and presence. Both describe fundamental states of being. Through a simple choreography in relationship to Salcedo’s installations the performers explore the notion that a body in totality is much more than a physical presence. Whether representing, presenting, or standing-in, the performers negotiate what it means to occupy or create a space, as subject or object. The human body is not a concept. It is irreplaceable.
The performers for "Notes on Empty Chairs" (part 2) include: Marvin Tate, Matthew Robinson, Regin Iglora, Kim Chayeb, Udita Upadhyaya, Sonia Yoon, Melina Ausikaitis, Christopher Guidotti, Christopher Gambino, Soheila Sima Azida, Valentina Vella, Alex Main, Alexis Atwill, Alison Auwerda. Drummer: Dan Bitney.
Hijabonita - Apr. 2015
30 Mins.
Performed at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Featuring Udita Upadhyaya and Tannaz Motevalli
Performed at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Featuring Udita Upadhyaya and Tannaz Motevalli
Ornamental Trophy - July 2014
8 Mins.
Featuring Peyton Stewart and Kimberly Napoli
Performed at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Featuring Peyton Stewart and Kimberly Napoli
Performed at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
The Way It Felt - Dec. 2013
3 Hour Durational Piece
Photography by James Luttrell
Photography by James Luttrell
Transition Face - Apr. 2013
2 Hours
Collaboration with Meso Lee
Performed on CTA Platforms and Stations in Chicago
Collaboration with Meso Lee
Performed on CTA Platforms and Stations in Chicago
The Unbearable Lightness of Breathing - Mar. 2013
What if? - Dec. 2012
15 Mins.
Performed at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Performed at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
“It is in moments of illness that we are compelled to recognize that we live not alone but chained to a creature of a different kingdom, whole worlds apart, who has no knowledge of us and by whom it is impossible to make ourselves understood: our body.”
- Marcel Proust
- Marcel Proust