Image : enok Ripley, 2025

Thursday March 27, 2025 from 5pm – 8pm  
At Espace Transmission (5435 Av. des Érables, Tiohtiá:ke/ Montréal)

On March 5, 2023, Mycelium, enok Ripley, Eish Van Wieren, and Holly Timpener organized a performance event examining how felt internal transformations triggered through durational actions could support transgender and non-binary identity, inform gender-diverse communities, and act as a form of resistance. Shortly after, the photo documentation of the actions was entirely lost in a flood. In the context of performance art, which is often described as ephemeral, visual documentation frequently serves as evidence that the actions took place. It (problematically) functions as a means of affirming existence.

In response, the collective of four artists have expanded on their previous collaboration, working together to explore questions such as: What means or modes of documentation are effective for performance art? How and when can we document performances? Do witnesses alter or influence the nature of documentation? How does documentation create opportunities to reflect on, reconsider, or extend the performance? 

The results of this research will be shared at a public event during which the artists will simultaneously present new individual long-duration performances, each created AS documentation of the original work from 2023. Shortly after, a publication will also be produced and circulated. 

The public is invited to come anytime during the event and stay for as long as they like.

VIVA! recognizes the importance of self-organizing for artists in our community. As co-presenter of this event, we are proud to facilitate the presence of performance activities in our city, and increase our support towards local artists.