Elaine Sturtevant: Spinoza in Las Vegas

While awaiting completion of its new home base de Appel celebrates the temporary disembodiment in 2009 with a special programme under the title "The Future Will Last Longer Than The Past". There is a radical scene change with the background becoming foreground, the white cube turns into a black box. The emphasis temporarily shifts from objects and images, to texts, the spoken word and gesture. Most of our public activities are taking place in theatrical surroundings, in connection with an institutional alliance with Theatre Frascati and Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam (City Theatre) amongst others. The performance by Sturtevant on 13 September is the second time this year that de Appel has organised a performance in collaboration with Frascati.

The American artist Sturtevant counts as one of the most important predecessors of 'appropriation art'; producing one-to-one 'repetitions' which, long before it became fashionable in the Eighties, responded to issues concerning authenticity, originality, uniqueness and reproduction. In a completely autonomous way she investigated the radical power of repetition. De Appel is now presenting her first theatre piece: "Spinoza in Las Vegas".

Sturtevant caused a furore in the mid-Sixties with her remakes of the icons of twentieth century art: Duchamp's ready-mades, Johns flags, Warhol Flowers. She would make repetitions of the source works; using the same technique and materials. The story goes that Warhol, after lengthy questioning about his method of working, answered, 'I don't know. Ask Elaine.' Although put into the category of copy, she was definitely not making copies: 'I am talking about the power and the autonomy of the original and the force and pervasiveness of art', says Sturtevant.

"Spinoza in Lase Vegas" is set in the excess world of Las Vegas, with its slot machines, chorus girls, strip joints and high stakes gambling. This live work stages the adventures of Spinoza; radically displaced into our cybernetic world. Alongside Spinoza, the performance features a dummy, a ventriloquist, a chorus line of teeny-boppers, rappers, some FBI guys and a prompter that encourages audience participation. Although full of fun and folly there is present a critique of our current high tension issues and a forceful critique of Spinoza's work.

"Spinoza in Las Vegas" takes place in the context of the manifestation "My Name is Spinoza", an initiative of the Amsterdam Spinoza Circle, concept and organisation by SKOR (Foundation Art and Public Space), in collaboration with Foundation Spinoza Centre. Amsterdam.

de Appel arts centre presents:

Spinoza in Las Vegas
Performance - Elaine Sturtevant
13 September 2009, 8.30 pm
I.c.w. Frascati, in de Rode Zaal of De Brakke Grond, Nes 45
Production of Tate Modern (London)