Nothing Inspires Nothing

johannezzits_nothingaction2 — Johannes Zits’ Score For “Getting Into Nothing”

Toronto-based performance artist Johannes Zits wrote to me recently about a new project he’s doing. Apparently, Nothing is contagious. Here is what he had to say:

“I am still thinking about The Sanctimonious Sect of Nothing Is Sacred project at DARE-DARE and have been trying to catch up on your blog about the project.

Over the past few weeks I have been developing a score for a performance with the working title of “Getting Into Nothing.” The performance is centered around what I am calling a Nothing Shuffle; maybe not a great name for this action but for now, it will do. For me, this action is one “without direction” but it goes beyond that. After reading articles on the blog, and through moving my body in the studio, I have come to realize that if I have time to process an action or allow myself to think about what to do next, it then starts to become something, even if it is on a very simple level. For example, moving towards the ground is significant if it is done as a conscious act. If it happens randomly and is followed by another unrelated movement, it avoids intention.

To frame the Nothing Shuffle, my score also works with emptiness, waiting, stillness, inaction and a pause or gap in the actions. For me these elements exemplify how nothing can become something within a given context. As in many of my other performances, I will be wearing nothing for most of this piece. However, undressing will deliberately be worked into the beginning of this score. The act of undressing is meant to present the naked state as an intention rather than just “something I do.” The last section of the score, doing nothing with something, still needs to be worked out. Will it be possible to bring my clothing back in to the space but treat them in a completely irreverent way while doing the Nothing Shuffle? I would conclude the performance as it began, by standing in front of the audience fully dressed.

Above is an image of the score that I have been working on.”

Author: Victoria Stanton

Montreal-based performance artist, writer, and educator Victoria Stanton explores live action, human interaction, video, film, photography, and drawing. View all posts by Victoria Stanton

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