Art as an experience at the Performance

The roots of the performing arts stretch back to the early actions of the Futurists, Dadaists and Surrealists of the early 20th century. It was then that performance artists first began to turn the process itself into the artwork – a radical departure from the static art form. However, performance art did not become properly established until the 1960s and 1970s. Movements such as Fluxus, Happenings and Conceptual Art laid the foundations for performance art to be recognised as a discipline in its own right.

Whilst painting and sculpture continued to occupy central positions, performance art offered something that played a major role, particularly after the Second World War: the opportunity to address existential and social issues directly through one’s own body. Artists such as Marina Abramović, Joseph Beuys and Chris Burden shaped action art with bold, often extreme actions that addressed pain, time, endurance and psychological strain. The performing arts became a vehicle for political critique, feminist discourse, personal trauma, social inequalities and physical limits.

Today, performance art is more diverse than ever. Museums are integrating performances into their exhibitions, festivals are dedicating entire programmes to them, and digital formats are also expanding the spectrum of the performing arts. At the same time, the audience that not only wants to see performance art but also to support it – for example, through commissions, documentaries or project-based collaborations – is growing.

Performance art is never mere entertainment. It always makes a statement. Sometimes quiet and poetic, sometimes loud and confrontational. Some performances provoke unease, others a sense of closeness. Some are political, others meditative. Some challenge physical limits, others play with humour or everyday gestures. It is precisely this breadth that makes Action Art so accessible – everyone can find a theme within it that resonates with them.

Many performances address social structures, body politics, feminism, critiques of capitalism or environmental issues. Others explore questions of identity, fear, intimacy or community. Artists use performance art to bring inner conflicts to light or to create a shared experience with the audience that lingers long afterwards. The great strength of the performing arts lies in their flexibility. They can be quiet or loud, visible or hidden, public or intimate; they can follow planned structures or emerge entirely from improvisation.

Iconic moments in performance art

Performance art has produced some of the most defining artistic moments of the 20th and 21st centuries – works that have become cultural landmarks through their simplicity, radicalism or emotional intensity. A famous example is Joseph Beuys’s action “How to Explain Pictures to a Dead Hare” (1965). With his face painted gold and a dead hare in his arms, Beuys walked through a gallery and ‘explained’ the exhibited artworks to it. The performance raised the question of who actually understands art – and whether language or rationality are even necessary for this.

With “The Artist Is Present” (2010), performance artist Marina Abramović created a moment of quiet intensity: at MoMA, she sat on a chair every day for three months, silently looking visitors in the eye. This simple encounter between two people became an emotional experience that redefined closeness, vulnerability and presence.

Yoko Ono and John Lennon also used this art form as a political tool: Their “Bed-In” (1969) transformed a hotel room into a media-covered peace demonstration. Instead of protesting, they stayed in bed for days on end – an absurd, humorous, yet effective form of civil resistance. The Fluxus movement, in turn, radicalised everyday life as art: brushing teeth, chopping vegetables or tearing up paper became performances that deliberately rebelled against traditional concepts of art.

These iconic actions demonstrate the breadth of performance art – ranging from poetic stillness to provocative gestures and Action Painting. They bring home the fact that art need not merely be an object, but can also be an action, an attitude and a moment.

Performance artists at the student art market

Performance art leaves a mark that extends far beyond the moment itself. It creates experiences that linger, spark conversations and connect people in unexpected ways. Anyone who supports the performing arts is investing in an art form that brings social issues to the fore and brings spaces to life with an immediate presence. If you’re curious about what performance art feels like, take a look at the Student Art Market: here you’ll find artists whose work is bold, moving and authentic – art that you don’t just see, but experience.

In our online gallery, you’ll encounter performers who are pushing the boundaries of performance art with fresh ideas. They connect body and space, experiment with rituals, everyday objects, video or sound, and create interdisciplinary projects that you can add to your collection. Buying performance art at the Student Art Market means directly supporting young artistic development – and becoming part of a vibrant, experimental art scene.