Performance art is a wide form of art, and many things are called performance art. Performance artists seem to be able to do what they want and get away with it – although the public in many cases both get annoyed and seem to lack understanding of what is going on and what the artist is on about.
Things are changing, and institution like art academies, performing institutions now embrace performance art.
Performance artists are free to do what they like. They mix genres, create new expressions, they are hybrid, associative and they may go into symbiotic relationships with other forms or artists. Earlier expressions like dadaism, futurism, surrealism often had elements of performance or happenings.
Performance art is about diverse art forms assembled and shown in real time. Happenings are there too, as well as action. Total silence or inaction can also be found – often disturbing audiences that get up and leave.
Many forms can be mixed to create new visions, to stir up intellectual curiosity, to shake up your docile mind. Collaboration is often used to extend the range of possible outcomes.
Free music forms often can often be called performance art – there can be a conscious striving for new forms and content. Theater, dance, pictures, photo, video all use the free form of performance to create, to do do research and be innovative.
Radical experiments are going on, and acceptance can be hard to find in the audience and among the institutions. Performance is often not documented – it is not for posterity – but may become myths as time passes.
Performance often pulls the audience into the action provoking reaction and discussion, and often performance is used as a political tool.
Art is often very commercial, and performance has been used to combat commercial pressures in art.
Education in performance art is found – a nice development that.
Performance is still not mainstream – you have to look for it – it may annoy you – but it can open your mind and be very rewarding emotionally, itellectually and socially. Go get a look, participate!