Choreography for the Running Male
Performance, 2012–ongoing
In Eglė Budvytytė’s mobile performance “Choreography for the Running Male”, a group of men jog a route through the city. As they trace a path in unison, they carry out choreographed gestures relating to emotions ranging from shame to seduction, along with sequences referencing militaristic action. Here they hide their faces in the folds of their clothing; there they sit daintily, hold hands or crawl through the grass. The work investigates notions of socialized behavior that infiltrate public consciousness and, as an extension, public space. “Choreography for the Running Male” investigates crowd mentality as well as the dynamics of the relationship between audience and performer, pushing up against the boundary between the two. It challenges the normally static performer–audience relationship, for to fully witness the performance we must run alongside the men, becoming one of the pack.
Artist's Bio:
Eglė Budvytytė, born in Lithuania, lives and works in Brussels. Her work was shown amongst others at Moderna Museet Malmo, 19th Biennale of Sydney (2014), De Appel Arts Centre (Amsterdam, 2013), 11th Baltic Triennial of International art, CAC in Vilnius (2012), and Stedeljik Museum in Amsterdam (2012). Budvytyte was resident at Le Pavillon, Palais de Tokyo (Paris, 2012) and at Wiels, Contemporary art centre, (Brussels, 2013).