10 metre platform

Lauren Brincat's practice is guided by the formative influence of early performance artists working in the 1970s. Her artworks mark out her own physical and mental limits and push her instincts to the edge. As an artist, she wills herself to reach out of bounds. Brincat's practice spans a variety of media including video and sculpture. It often involves documentation of personal 'actions' undertaken anonymously and in relative solitude. During May and June 2012, Lauren Brincat was based in Mexico City researching and producing a new performance video, titled 10 metre platform. Brincat had planned to lower herself over the ledge of the high diving board at the Alberca Olimpica Francisco Marquez indoor swimming pool, and hang there for as long as possible until, unable to hold on any longer, she would let go and fall into the pool. During the performance, watched by her film crew, she discovered that she was unable to go through with the task. She hit a wall. After some contemplation and review of the 'failure' of the performance, she writes: "It wasn't a happy ending. At first I was devastated that I didn't fall from the platform, but I've since realised the success of the piece. The one performance that depicted competitiveness and required success, resulted in failure. It truly tested my limits. My necessity to be in control."