A few weeks ago John Waters, MEN (Johanna Fateman and JD Samson), Peaches, another band that I am totally blanking on and Terrence Koh performed at a benefit for
Printed Matter in New York.
Terrence has gotten so much attention lately in the art medias and mainstream medias alike, but still his art is somewhat mysterious to most people (although one thing that we know is that the likes it that way). Below is some documentation of his performance from the Printed Matter event.
The light on the small stage is so incredibly hot. Every other light in the house is off.
Terrence walks out, painted completely white and wearing a giant white feathered robe.
He spends a few minutes with his head to the floor. The energy of the audience in the room, all excited to be there and to see him, respecting in rapt silence is truly powerful.
He performs an inaudible meditation involving his necklace.
He sheds the robe to reveal his tiny white-painted frame.
He leans over to open a what looks like a small plastered-over pot... Finally the pot is open... He takes the small spoon that he was using to break it open and spreads out one giant line of the white powder inside... whoah...
He snorts a third of the line, raises his head, convulses and looks up to the sky, repeating "Long live the printed idea. Long live the printed idea!" about four time. After which two boys in white clothes come to lead him, sort of trembling, away.
