Today’s pathway session was about performance art. Before today, I did not even know the difference between performance art and performing arts. In the morning, we did some performance exercise. It started with very limited instructions about when to start or what to do or when it will come to an end, everything sort of evolved organically. One person’s response to the space can trigger someone else’s reaction, slowly, all the movements in the room created a very intense and lively energy in the space.

There was no logic or framework the beginning with, we built the logic and framework together as a collective group of people in the performance. I kept asking myself, would I act the same way if I was the only one in the room? What does each movement mean? My unconscious response to someone’s movement was what triggered the next movement in the group. Some gestures were suggestive. It provided a clue or hint for what could be done next and some people in the group detected that signal and acted on it. In the process of performing as part of the act of the collective group, each performer lost their individual identity and became an element in the performance.

I noticed when a new element was introduced to the scene, sometimes it redefines what we were looking at and evokes some new ideas and response. For example, we started with a sculpture structure made from furnitures in the room then I decided to sit on one of the chair within that structure. By doing so, I became part of the sculpture. I introduced the idea of human body being part of a structure, then someone joined me immediately after that. Then they started interacting with the structure and making sound. Then sounds created rhythm, rhythm prompted more movements and sounds, just like that, an improved performance piece was created by all of us. It was instant, temporary and irreproducible.

As I was thinking about how to engage audience in a public space with interactive structures, I thought about playground. It is basically a group of toys in a public space. So I decided to look into children’s toys and furniture to see how it encourage playfulness.

I was focusing on things that has geometric shapes that are versatile and able to transform from one shape to another.

After researching several possible deployable structures, I think the honeycomb mechanism will give me the most versatility to form different shapes. I went to Flying Tiger and bought a tool made with the same honeycomb structure and tested it. It was actually really stable and comfortable. Because it was made of cardboard so it is very cheap. But it will not be suitable for outdoor installations. I will have to test different materials.

I learned how to use domestic sewing machine today. I embroidered sections of sound wave of some of the sound I recorded when I was walking around London. Not sure where this will led me to, but at least I had fun making some stuff.

My original idea for the busker’s box was that there will be two compartment installed on both side of a bench where it can be expanded from either side and form a circle around the street busker.

I used origami paper to help me visualize my idea.

Each seat are created with a module like this:

When all the modules link together, it creates a deployable structure. I definitely want to experiment more with different structures and materials.

Documenting your finished work and working process is very important for a professional artist. I spent 3 hours today in the capture studio to take pictures of my work for the manifesto project.

I took me awhile to set up the light and camera. I love the LED light. It was very easy to use. And I played with the settings on 5D to make sure I can get great images of my work.

The setting up part was kind tedious. It took me an hour just to get the right light on my work and figuring out the right settings on my camera took forever. I was also trying to create a standardized workflow in the capture studio for my future documentation process so I can use my time more effectively in the future.

Today, I interviewed a street busker at Leicester Square. His name is Nando. He is a musician from Brazil. We did a short interview in between his performances.

Me: Why do you like to perform on this particular spot?

Nando: It is less crowded. I prefer quite spot so people can hear.

Me: Do you always perform on the same spot?

Nando: No, I change spots all the time but I like this one the most.

Me: Where else in London are popular spots for street buskers?

Nando: Here (Leicester Square), Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and Southbank.

Me: Why?

Nando: Because there are more tourists here so we can make more money.

Me: How much can you make per day if you don’t mind me asking?

Nando: About 100 pounds. Sometimes I can make that in two hours.

Me: Do you think you would like this chair? (showed him my sketch). You can pull it out from either side to form a circle around your space to create a temporary concert space and people can sit down to listen to your music.

Nando: That is a great idea. Sometimes, when people walk in front of me it is very distracting. There are no place for people to sit on the square, I think it is a good idea provide a place for people to sit down.

Me: Do you think it should be a fixed installation on the square or should it be portable?

Nando: Portable I think. Because I travel to different countries busking on the street. Even when I am in London, I perform at different spots so if I can carry it with me wherever I go, that will be great. I am going to Brazil this November because London is too cold during that time.

Me: Thank you for your time!

Nando: You are welcome!

Recalling all the stops that I made while navigating through the city of London, one thing became very clear to me—I am very interested in the street buskers in London. So I decided to take sometime and observe while they perform on the street in order to find some inspirations.

I did some research about the most popular spots in London for busking. Covert Garden, South Bank, Trafalgar square and Leister Square are on the top of my list.

I went to Leister square and found a musician name Nando from Brazil. I stayed for his entire performance and just observed.

He sat on a foldable stool with a small speaker next to him. At beginning, a gentleman sat on the ground in front of Nando and I sat on the edge of the garden behind him. As his music attracted more people, I noticed that people starting to form a circle around him. Because there are no where to sit in that part of the square, so people just stood there the whole time or leave the circle to walk to other part of the square in order to find a place to sit down and enjoy the music. People drop few coins from time to time and compliment his performance while they are doing it.

An idea suddenly struck me, why don’t I create something that allow the audience to sit down while they enjoy the performance and if they can stay longer maybe they will be more inclined to compensate the musician for their incredible performance.

So I decided to explore the idea of creating a busker’s bench in the public space that help create a more engaging environment for both the performer and audience.

After my tutorial today, I realized that I needed to engage with the site or space when I explore the city and ask myself questions like What am I looking at? What constitute as a city? What is London to me? Why am I looking at that? How do I feel when I look at it?

So I decided to re-explore the same line, asking myself those questions and trying to find answers to them. I tried to activate all my senses in order to fully engage in that experience.

As I walk through different areas in London, I realized how segregated different neighborhoods are. The visible display of wealth and class through architectures and urban landscape created varies invisible walls between different neighborhoods in London.

Also, I recorded all the sound I have heard that day. I realized that putting on my headphone as part of my daily routine cuts off my connection with the sounds of the city. So I took off my headphone and let myself hear the city. Construction noises, car honking, tourists speaking different language, train squeaking, beeping sound from tapping oyster card to enter the tube station, water running from the Thames, musician busking on the street, children’s laughter in the park… It made me realize how much sound I have missed by plugging myself into my own isolated world.

As I was walking on the street, I kept asking myself why do I like to live in London? What makes London so unique and attractive as a city?

I stopped in front of a street busker near Tate on Southbank. His voice commanded my attention and all other sound just faded at the moment, all I can hear was his beautiful music. People voluntarily formed a circle around him and watched him to perform. I recalled all the times I stopped for music on the street of London and came to realize that the lively energy created by musicians on the street of London is what I love about the city and what makes me feel happy and lucky that I get to live here.

Me and Zoe followed the Jubilee line to explore London today. We got off at Baker street and set our destination at the south bank since we both think the Thames river is essential to London’s history and identity.

I clipped my go pro camera on my jacket and started recording our journey. I concentrated on what made me stop each time. I stopped in front of the Sherlock Holmes Museum because I saw a large crowd. I stopped for all the street musicians because their voice has the power to pause time and command my attention. I stopped for coffee because I was physically exhausted from walking for 3 hours. I stopped in the Green Park and rested on the chair they put on the meadow and they charged me for using it.

I felt like I was not entirely drifting during this trip since we do have a destination in mind, I was consciously walking towards the bank as we were walking through the city. One thing that is very clear to me is that I love the street performers in London. They have the power to make me stop every single time. I want to make some work about them or for them…