Time Circle (2024) 30min. Philemon Mukarno Performance Art

Performance @ Live Art Ireland

🔺️

Naked and Reborn: Philemon Mukarno’s ‘Time Circle’ Challenges Spiritual Authority

Philemon Mukarno stages performances that are deeply spiritual. His 2024 work, “Time Circle,” is a compelling example. It was presented at Live Art Ireland on August 5. Consequently, the piece questions external spiritual control. Curated by Deej Fabyc, the performance uses the body completely stripped bare. This radical vulnerability forms the heart of Mukarno’s message. The artist invites us on a journey toward divine freedom. This physical and spiritual exploration is immediately unforgettable.

 

The Power of Naked Public Presence

The performance starts with a powerful, silent statement. Mukarno appears completely **naked in public**. This deliberate choice is inherently confrontational. Therefore, all social labels and worldly possessions vanish immediately. Nudity here is not intended for shallow shock value. Instead, it serves as a search for ultimate honesty and purity. It reveals the human being in their most essential, raw form. The audience sees a soul laid bare and utterly defenseless. This physical nakedness begins a profound spiritual dialogue. It sets the crucial stage for the drama of liberation.

 

 Suffocation by Systemic Authority

Immediately after, the artist enters a large, clear bag. The enclosure feels unnervingly airtight. The atmosphere is then slowly evacuated using a vacuum device. Visually, this creates a shocking scene of imminent suffocation. Metaphorically, this struggle symbolizes organized spiritual oppression. The plastic tightly restricts the body, making the fight for breath palpable. Furthermore, this literal fight mirrors an internal, spiritual battle for autonomy. The audience bears witness to a desperate, life-or-death moment.

 

The Violent Climax of Rebirth

Tension builds until the breaking point. Suddenly, the confining plastic bag is violently cut open. This explosive action signifies an immediate and powerful release. Mukarno bursts out, gasping desperately for air and survival. The moment embodies a profound symbolic rebirth. Consequently, the soul is liberated from all external, authoritative control. The naked form shifts its meaning instantly. It transforms from constrained vulnerability to triumphant, pure freedom. The change from absolute oppression to immediate release is visceral. Mukarno believes in creative non-attachment to material things.

 

Nudity as a Sacred Vessel

For Mukarno, appearing naked is essential to the spiritual theme. This vulnerability equates the raw, nude form with inherent purity and truth. Stripping away clothing reveals the very essence of the spirit. The public display of nakedness is truly an act of defiance against societal shame. In conclusion, it reclaims the body as a sacred and authentic vessel. True spiritual insight, Mukarno suggests, demands absolute and unflinching honesty. This focus on the body as a microcosm is central to the work.

 

A Lasting Plea for Personal Freedom

“Time Circle” is far more than mere performance art. It is a striking challenge to every viewer’s own spiritual limits. Mukarno successfully uses physical extremes to convey an unspoken message. Therefore, the work explores suffering, survival, and ultimate divine freedom. The image of the naked, gasping artist remains long after the performance ends. It prompts us to seek out our own personal liberation. Mukarno’s technique and rigor create powerful, indelible art.

🔻