Artwork

The last happening or happening-like performance I have been in was called 31 pictures in 2 variations. It was performed 5 times on stage at Fiolteatret on May 22-26 this year (1968). As the title says, the enterprise consisted of pictures. These were numbered and shown one after the other, interrupted by intervals when the lights were off, and thus basically the whole idea of the enterprise is described. 

As "image" anything can be used in principle, however, it turned out that there is a big qualitative difference. Those used at the Fiolteatret had names: dominoes, iris, elastic sculpture, ballet, mannequin, coffee mill, coat of arms, slide, boccia in the living room, cross beam, road salt, short story, Muybridge painting, etc. The names corresponded closely to what was going on on the stage, e.g. "painting" when the light was turned on, there was a painting on the stage where it remained until the light was turned off again, or "domino" when the light was turned on, there were a number of people on the stage who immediately started playing dominoes. 

In the dark intervals between the "pictures", a tape machine ran with footage from the preparations for the performance. The individual images were supported by music or sounds also on tape, as well as light and decoration effects and throughout the event it was possible to follow the day's programme on a mounted TV set, but without sound. 

The second part of the title "in 2 variations" may also need to be explained. The performance was 1 1/1-2 hours (it was changed from time to time), divided by an intermission. The picture that was shown before the break as no. 7 came back as no. 7 in a new version after the intermission. Among several reasons for this structuring can be mentioned the desire to avoid the whole taking on a collage character. On the same occasion, it also proved necessary to reduce the total number of images, which was done by merging several. 

It was Plagiatdrengene who were in charge of the performance.