“Our personal
narratives are
important, be
forthcoming in
sharing your
stories.
Consider how
to translate
personal
stories through
materials and
artworks.”
- Ezzam Rahman
Concept: Words and Gestures Communicate
Exercise 2: Who am I?
Duration: 5 mins
Materials: Markers, face mask
Instructions for students (Pair work):
Write down one word on the mask -- one word that represents you.
If you can be described as one word, what would it be?
Think of the word and write it on the mask.
Hide that mask so your partner does not see it.
Stand at an arm’s length apart from partner and face him/her.
Stare at the person in front of you.
No giggling or smiling.
Have an indifferent face.
Breathe in and out and just look at that person.
Look into the person’s eyes (1 min).
Take out your mask and wear it.
Face your partner.
Stare at that person.
Look at that word in front of you.
Hold your right hand into a shooting gesture.
Both your fingers should be close enough yet they don’t touch.
Concentrate on your finger (1 min).
Put your hand down.
Take that piece of paper from the previous exercise.
Use it to slowly remove your mask.
Fold and hide your mask inside the paper.
Fold it the way you want because it represents you.
Now the paper becomes a material that safeguards that word.
This becomes a performance relic, a performance residue.
It becomes a documentation of what happened in time and space,
between you, the material and your partner.
Suggested questions for post-activity discussion/follow-up:
1. How did you feel when you first held the paper?
2. What were some of your thoughts as you stared at the paper?
Why did you think those thoughts?
3. Would you speak about what you have done as an artwork? Why
or why not?
4. How was time and space engaged in performance art?
5. What gesture/action would you design to convey to an audience
more about… (yourself, a social concern, etc.)?
Needless to say, creating a safe environment will encourage students
who are new to performance art overcome their discomfort and to
participate. Have them brainstorm on the meaning that everyday
gestures convey. Engage them actively in conversations to have
them understand how performance artists elicit empathy through
their physical actions and use of materials.
View video of Ezzam Rahman’s masterclass HERE.
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