MFA Summer Study Proposal

MFA Summer Study Proposal

Ana Kuzmanic

ECA, 16 June 2008

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MFA Summer Study Proposal

Contents

Context...........................................................................................................................3

Learning Outcomes........................................................................................................3

Research and Practice Design........................................................................................4

Timeline .........................................................................................................................5

Learning Resources........................................................................................................5

Appendix 1: Draft Idea for the Performance .................................................................6

Appendix 2: About the Isle of Jabuka............................................................................6

Appendix 3: Location and Photo ...................................................................................7

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MFA Summer Study Proposal

Context
My Summer Study will consist of theoretical inquiry into performance arts,
development of ideas for my own performance, performance act, photo and video
documentation, processing of acquired material, its presentation (PowerPoint,
portfolio and public viewing), and critical evaluation of artistic outcomes. Practical
part of my work will take place at a sailing trip around Croatian islands.

The trip provides many artistic possibilities and learning opportunities. Boat crew
consists of 22 people from 5 countries: Croatia, Scotland, Italy, Greece and Germany.
The majority of them are actors, filmmakers, performers and musicians; few have no
professional connections with arts.

We will spend two weeks cruising around Croatian islands. We will visit specific
locations; many of those cannot be reached by any form of public transport. We will
try to spend as much time as possible out of standard tourist routes. Many islands we
plan to visit are uninhabited.

Learning Outcomes
LO1: Research
To explore, organise and gain an awareness of the nature of performance art and gain
new skills specifically associated with performance art.
To explore artistic practice within the specific situation of boat environment.

LO2: Analysis
To develop a critical awareness of artistic documentation in practice-based research.
To put together and prepare innovative forms of creative documentation.

LO3: Communication
To present the creative documentation in different contexts; both privately to peers
and in a public arena.

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MFA Summer Study Proposal

Research and Practice Design

Stage 1: Concept Development
This stage consists of two phases: literature review and development of performance
concept. Building on my previous work, literature review will consist of browsing
various examples of performance arts and their theoretical backgrounds. An initial
idea for the performance has already been developed (see Appendix 1); its final form,
however, will be strongly dependant of literature review and practical possibilities.

Stage 2: Collation of Material

Collation of material consists of several phases: development of flag dipping ritual,
finding an appropriate location, borrowing electronic equipment, experimentation and
development of the best camera usage, group discussion with fellow artists, directing
of the performance and so forth.

Stage 3: Evaluation and Processing of Material

Among the acquired material I shall identify the best representatives for my artistic
goals and process them accordingly. Based on feedback to presentation, portfolio and
public viewing I shall evaluate my outcomes and improve my strategy for future
projects.

Stage 4: Presentation, Portfolio and Public Viewing

Depending on the outcomes of Stage 3, I will develop a presentation, portfolio and
organise the public viewing of my work.

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MFA Summer Study Proposal

Timeline
Draft timeline of activities:

Activity Duration

Literature Review 5 Days

Concept Development 5 Days
Acquiring Equipment/Technical Preparations 5 Days
Preparations/Performance 5 Days
Editing of Material 5 Days
Presentation, Portfolio and Public Viewing Development 5 days

Total Workload 30 Days

The final timeline will heavily depend on circumstances such as weather conditions
and availability of equipment.

Learning Resources
Equipment: sailing boat, video camera, photo camera
People: artists from various backgrounds
Place: a remote, uninhabited island in the Adriatic Sea
Literature: books and studies about performance art, sailing books and manuals,
video/photo camera manuals

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MFA Summer Study Proposal

Appendix 1: Draft Idea for the Performance

I would like to make a performance piece which parodies the absurd of politics and
political changes in remote, uninhabited places. I would like to tape occupation of a
small, uninhabited Isle of Jabuka by a party of passengers. Arriving by boat, they dip
their flag in the middle of the deserted island rouged by harsh weather conditions.
Soon after they leave, and everything remains the same. The first man on the Moon
dipped an American flag; recently, Russians flew theirs in the depth of Antarctic.
Being a small Mediterranean country, Croatia has been occupied by many nations:
Italy, Austria, England, France, Hungary… How all those flags effect the Moon,
Antarctic or Croatia? Why people have a need to claim something they can’t use? In
this performance, I would like to point to the absurd of such enterprises.

Note: This is a draft idea subject to changes. Depending on weather conditions, it

might not be possible to reach the desired location; moreover, photo and video
documentation heavily depends on availability of expensive equipment. In this phase,
I am planning to develop an alternative, less demanding scenario; the final
performance will be chosen according to circumstances.

Appendix 2: About the Isle of Jabuka

The desired location for the performance is a small, uninhabited island Jabuka. The
island sits in the middle of Adriatic see, more than 100 miles from the coast and more
than 30 miles from the nearest inhabited island. It is one of the only two volcanic
islands in the Adriatic; it can be approached only in light weather conditions; its coast
is steep and there is no mooring or berthing place.

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jabuka_%28island%29

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MFA Summer Study Proposal

Appendix 3: Location and Photo

Picture 1: Location of Island of Jabuka

Picture 2: Island of Jabuka

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