Alien (2024) '60 min

Alien : Naked Performance Art as Radical Vulnerability and Collective Exploration

Alien is a powerful group performance that unfolded at Live Art Ireland, curated by Deej Fabyc and conceptualized by Guillermo of La Pocha Nostra. Among its bold cast, Philemon Mukarno brought his striking presence and profound commitment to naked performance art. This 60-minute ensemble piece took nudity far beyond the physical state, using exposed bodies as narrative vessels to explore vulnerability, identity, and the human condition.

The Essence of Alien

Alien did not treat nudity as mere spectacle or provocation. Instead, it harnessed nakedness as a courageous act of truth. The performers, including Natalia Panfile, Olivia Hassett, Rachel MacManus, Lauren Kelly, Amy Mauvan, Lola Velvet, and Mukarno himself, stripped away layers of social conditioning and cultural armor. In doing so, they revealed a raw collective humanity. Each unclothed form became a living poem, telling stories of isolation, connection, and the quest to embrace one’s true self amid alienation.

Workshop as Creative Crucible

The workshop leading to Alien was a crucible of experimentation and boundary-pushing. Hosted by La Pocha Nostra and Vest & Page, it was designed to empower artists in expressing their deepest impulses. Curated by Deej Fabyc, this creative gathering encouraged fearless exploration of nakedness as a language of emotion and narrative. Within this charged environment, Alien emerged as a profound act of artistic solidarity and emotional risk-taking. The process itself became inseparable from the final performance’s power.

Nudity as Narrative Tool

In Alien, nudity functioned as a profound storytelling device. It confronted audiences with the paradox of vulnerability that yields strength. By removing all external markers, the performers invited viewers to face their own judgments about nakedness. This narrative layer transformed the body from an object to a subject—one bearing witness to societal fears, desires, and courage. The performance became a mirror, reflecting back the often uncomfortable truths that nakedness uncovers about identity and belonging.

Audience Impact and Dialogue

Alien sparked vivid, sometimes polarized responses—as is common with provocative art. Some applauded the bravery and emotional clarity of the performers, while others found the naked exposure discomfiting. Yet this discomfort was part of the work’s intention, prompting important conversations about the human body, art, and cultural taboos. It challenged spectators to reconsider their assumptions and expand their empathy. Alien’s lasting impact lies not just in what was seen, but in what was awakened within its audience.

A Collective Statement on Human Experience

More than a performance, Alien was a collective manifesto. It stood against the commodification and objectification of naked bodies pervasive in media and culture. Instead, it reasserted nudity’s capacity to embody dignity, strength, and community. By gathering diverse artists together within this unguarded space, Alien celebrated difference and shared vulnerability equally. The piece illuminated how nakedness can be transformative—a mode of artistic and social liberation.

Legacy in Contemporary Live Art

Alien solidifies Philemon Mukarno’s reputation as a pioneering force in naked performance art. Its synthesis of radical vulnerability, group dynamics, and narrative depth enriches the landscape of live art today. The performance’s boldness, combined with its emotional nuance, provides a template for future explorations of body politics, belonging, and spiritual honesty. Alien remains a touchstone for how live art can confront and transcend cultural boundaries through naked truth.

Alien, as curated by Deej Fabyc and realized by a powerful ensemble including Mukarno, stands as a testament to the transformative power of naked performance. It invites viewers to journey beyond surface judgments toward authentic human connection, breaking taboos and fostering dialogue that echoes far beyond the stage.