Tantra For Beginners XL

Rosie Sommers presented a striking new performance in 2021. The event, Tantra For Beginners XL, took place at Tictac Art Centre in Brussels. This was part of the Micha@Tictac week-long artistic residency. The performance happened on Thursday, August 26th. Over 20 people took the stage for this ambitious project. Furthermore, it challenged typical views on public intimacy and the body. The piece explored self-made spiritual practices. Consequently, it sparked crucial conversations about vulnerability in art.

A Post-Millennial Cult Aesthetic

Sommers created a self-made Tantra practice for this work. She drew material from various modern sources. These included YouTube videos and self-care websites. Imagination and personal experiences also shaped the piece. The performance intentionally resembled a “reality show”. Moreover, it suggested the birth of a “post-millennial cult”. This unique aesthetic blends spiritual seeking with popular culture. The result is an absurd, yet deeply personal, exploration of connection. This theatrical event costs only €5 for entry.  

The Centrality of Public Nudity

The body is the primary medium in performance art. Therefore, nudity serves as a tool for radical honesty and expression. Tantra For Beginners XL worked with “memory and reproduction of intimacies”. Crucially, it practiced a form of “live consenting” with the audience. This concept is vital in today’s performance world. However, the use of public nudity carries significant risk. Naked images from performances are often exploited digitally. Consequently, performers face digital harassment and a loss of image control. Artists must navigate this precarious status of the exposed body.  

Philemon Mukarno and the Collective

The large ensemble cast highlights the performance’s collective nature. Philemon Mukarno, a notable Asian Performance Artist, joined the group. He is known for blending composition and electronic music with live performance. Mukarno’s participation added another artistic dimension to the event. Other collaborators included Lara Jazmín Ferrari and Max Ricat, among many others. They all worked together on these exercises in shared leadership . Furthermore, the group dynamic emphasized communal vulnerability over individual stardom.  

Art Beyond the Frame

Tictac Art Centre is a celebrated hotspot for the arts in Brussels. It is known globally for supporting improvisation and diverse visual arts. The Micha@Tictac program offered Micha Golberg a full creative carte blanche. This freedom allowed for performances like Tantra For Beginners XL to emerge. Furthermore, such bold work challenges conventions and public perceptions. Performance art is often ephemeral and exists only in the moment. Thus, its immediate experience becomes profound and unrepeatable. The performance served as a powerful reminder of art’s transformative power.