In an extraordinary art performance anti-war protestor and artist Mark McGowan is to set fire to himself in Parliament Square outside the Houses of Parliament on Bonfire Night, November 5th, 2007. The event will take place at 6pm in a protest against the war in Iraq. The event is part of an exhibition curated by Andy Hunt at the Chelsea Space which is part of Chelsea College of Art and opens on Tuesday, November 6th. McGowan says he's "scared but I have been training with a stunt man for several weeks and everything should be OK." Andrew Hunt says, "We have just commissioned the documentation of the event and have worries about the health and safety aspect of the performance but Mark assures us that everything will be OK."
Madame Arcati commented: "Rumours that I shall be making a much-desired guest appearance in the self-immolation are wide of the mark (and Mark), but it's possible I shall spectate at a safe distance in morbid curiosity just to see whether anything goes wrong - as people do. I feel sure a fire engine will be in attendance."
5 comments:
With any luck he'll be burned to death and we shan't have to put up with the old bore a second longer.
What, so he's not actually going to set fire to himself and it's all an "art performance"? Phooey. This McGowan is a fake of the first order. If you're going to set fire to yourself you set fire to yourself. Did Norman Morrison pretend to set fire to himself outside the Pentagon to protest Vietnam? Not by a heap. He went the Full Monty; so should this McGowan.
I understand that Mark wants to be famous - he said so in his Arcati interview - and he may have a principled objection to the war in Iraq. But first and foremost he must maintain the wit of his moral exhibitions. If he's permitted to set himself alight in Parliament Square on Nov 5 I shall interpret that as quite witty. Should he be actually consumed by flame, that will be a joke that fell flat.
As I've said in so many other contexts, success or failure is part of the definition.
Oh dear, dear, anonymous...you are quite ignorant..you obviously never studied the Art of the 60's...Andy Warhol will be there in spirit..you are dry, and boring...get off your pedestal/your idea of performance art can easily be executed.. we can throw a bucket of water on you, and watch you melt..
you have a voracious appetite for defamatory remarks: oh Wicked Witch of the West! Please don't forget to have your flying monkeys accompany you...
forgotten ones fund/stephmastini said...
"Oh dear, dear, anonymous...you are quite ignorant.."
My God, people can't even post on topics not related to her ex-brother-in-law without getting attacked. I've had enough. Bye.
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