VITO ACCONCI | 'Applications'

ferrotyped, 2 film stills printed on one sheet, initialed, titled, and dated in ink, 1970; accompanied by typed performance instructions (2)

Deborah Bell Photographs, New York

This ferrotyped photograph is in generally excellent condition. As is typical of the ferrotyping process, a slight unevenness of the generally glossy surface and minor pitting are visible. Upon close inspection, a few creases and impressions are also visible on the image and in the margins. There is a linear rust-colored deposit in the upper margin, likely from an old paper clip. There are some tiny deposits of indeterminate nature and fingerprints in the margins and the corners are gently worn. There is uneven faint darkening in the right margin and along the corresponding edge on the reverse. The accompanying typed performance instructions read as follows: 'Artist: Vito Acconci Title: Applications Year: 1970 (December) Medium: Performance (bodies, lipstick, transference); Super 8 film of the performance Size: Twenty Minutes Location: Wabash Transit Gallery, Chicago Art Institution Photos: Nancy Dillon An activity for one female performer, two males: F and M1 are kneeling, facing front; M2 is standing, facing the wall; M1 and M2 are naked from the waist up. 1. F puts on heavy lipstick; she kisses M1's chest – she covers his chest and arms with lipstick. 2. When M1 is covered with lipstick, he rubs his front against M2's back – his aim is to clear his body of lipstick, to cover M2 with lipstick. - My role is that of M1: middleman: performance as elastic response (adjustive) – performance as self-determinative response (extensive). - Performance as camouflage: loosening boundaries between parties – performance as undifferentiated mass. - Performance as the application (acquisition) of color: color as locomotion – one region approaching another region (one person taking over, or blending into, another person).'
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