Lilibeth Cuenca (Philippines/Denmark)

Performance is a fleeting art. Anyone who was unable to witness Nam June Paik calligraphing his hair live is stuck with the dull documentary. Cuenca has resolved this dilemma in her 3-hour tour de force through performance history as effectively as she has entertainingly. In thirteen reinactments, she revives famous appearances by icons such as Yves Klein, Marina Abramovic, Yoko Ono and even Paik. With her brilliant creation The Artist’s Song providing a framework, she lets the different works comment upon one another. And inspired by Rirkrit Tiravanija’s performative hospitality Lilibeth’s five-member ‘family clan’ cooks for the audience. Lilibeth Cuenca is a master of ironic anthropology. She casts her eye on both the rituals of Philippine healers and the globalised art business. In addition to numerous exhibitions in Denmark in 2007, she recently participated in Global Feminisms at Brooklyn Museum, New York.