By Biennale of Sydney
23rd Biennale of Sydney: rīvus
Blind painting of a falling tree (2022) by Mike ParrBiennale of Sydney
About the participant
Mike Parr
Born 1945 in Sydney, Australia
Lives in Sydney
Australian artist Mike Parr is known for long-durational performances where he tests the limits of the body and the will, and the possibilities of representation in art.
Blind painting of a falling tree (2022)Biennale of Sydney
Blind painting of a falling tree, 2022
For rīvus, Mike Parr attempts to paint the image of a tree with his eyes shut.
Blind painting of a falling tree (2022) by Mike ParrBiennale of Sydney
The video footage of the action, taken by Gotaro Uematsu and Heath Franco, the latter also blinded, is shown here alongside the resulting image.
Blind painting of a falling tree (2022)Biennale of Sydney
‘Everything in advance. Performance art for me is in advance. Decisively in advance. Because the event always exceeds the idea. I see something huge, black, impossibly uncertain. A body as trunk, a trunk as body falling. Falling trees everywhere.'
Blind painting of a falling tree (2022) by Mike ParrBiennale of Sydney
'Blind painting is unprecedented because it acknowledges the history of art, so art falling too, beyond the trace, beyond the indexical, beyond mental reclamation. Must see the possibility of the unseen in this unseen way!’ —Mike Parr
Blind painting of a falling tree (2022) by Mike ParrBiennale of Sydney
Watch Mike Parr's Blind painting of a falling tree, 2022.
