Not all art is expressed with paint on canvas, or as a 3D sculpture in an exhibit. In the realm of creative endeavors, there are those who express themselves through art forms that are wholly alternative, edgy, and unique. One such artist expresses herself through performance art, and has recreated such moments as losing her virginity, her grandfather’s funeral, and most recently, actually giving birth to her first child in a Brooklyn art gallery.
Marni Kotak’s birth-as-art event took place at Bushwick’s Microscope Gallery. The show was an installation with videos and artwork, and it culminated in the birth. Now, how’s that for true realism?
Described as a durational performance, it began Oct. 8 and ended Nov. 7 of last year. Kotak said she spent as much time at the gallery as possible during the ninth months, talking to visitors about motherhood, art, and other issues. Those who left their contact information were notified when she went into labor, so they could share in the artistic experience.
Kotak represents a new generation of artists who believe in the slogan of “art for art’s sake,” a bohemian creed in the 19th century raised by Victor Cousin in defiance of those who thought that the value of art was to serve some moral or didactic purpose. “Art for art’s sake” affirmed that art was valuable as art, that artistic pursuits were their own justification, and that art did not need moral justification — and indeed, was allowed to be morally subversive.
“She’s in the tradition of using your life as your authentic material and shaping and forming it,” says feminist artist Carolee Schneemann, whose own works deal with taboo themes of sexuality — a tradition that goes back to 1959, when filmmaker Stan Brakhage recorded the birth of his first child as a work of art.
Re-enacting events from her life for the public, Kotak has performed her own birth, losing her virginity in “a sunny blue Plymouth,” and her grandfather’s funeral.
“My performances for over 10 years have dealt with presenting my everyday life as art. I began doing my ‘Found Performances’ — my daily activities, life experiences, and personal milestones presented as art — while in graduate school, at Brooklyn College from 2004 to 2006.”
So when she learned that she was pregnant, it seemed “only natural for me to consider that it would be a profound everyday life performance,” she says.
In the weeks preceding the birth of her son, Marni said she was really psyched for the big day and enjoyed decorating the birthing room in the gallery with her hubby, artist Jason Robert Bell. With her nesting instinct in full gear, her creative talent quickly took over, and the bare space was magically transformed into a cheerful, cozy sanctuary replete with her grandma’s comfy, full-size bed, which she and Jason broke back in the day; a rocking chair used by her own mother, as she rocked little Marni to sleep; an inflatable birthing tub; and a blue shag rug. They even painted a mural on the walls depicting a beach scene by the Atlantic Ocean. The blue color provided a calming effect, reminding the mom-to-be of summers spent at the shore near her home.
And then there were the symbolic accessories: a doll whose face was a baby photo of Kotak’s, accent pillows featuring photos of the couple kissing, Kotak as a baby, and of Kotak pregnant, laying on the beach.
“All of the items in the gallery had a significance to me and were installed to create the ideal space for me to give birth in,” she said. “I spent time at the gallery in the days leading up to the birth, about two weeks after the opening of the show, talking with visitors about the ideas behind the piece, and waiting. So much of the performance was actually about the waiting and anticipation involved in preparing to give birth.”
Mementos celebrating the pregnancy were artistically displayed on the walls: a shadow box containing the pregnancy test, a RhoGAM shot [an injection to prevent hemolytic disease of the newborn, also known as HDN], and Kotak’s silver baby spoon. Ajax’s first sonogram image was meaningfully encased in a wood-crafted display, and on another wall, by the bed, a shelf held two towering trophies — one for Ajax and one for his mama. It seemed like a room filled with happy, creative energy.
“I took childbirth classes and worked with a midwife and doula,” Kotak says. “While at the gallery, I also addressed last-minute details to make the space even more ideal as a birthing room, such as, installing a shower, and stocking my kitchenette with foods and drinks.”
Then came Oct. 25, 2011: show time! When Kotak went into labor, she quickly waddled over — with Bell, her “co-creator,” in tow — to Microscope, a stone’s throw from their Bushwick pad. Kotak said 20 viewers attended the delivery, seated by the room’s door, or milling about at certain times.
Kotak’s masterpiece was finally revealed: he was an armful, weighing in at nine pounds, two ounces, and 22 inches long. She calls Ajax a true work of art — as are all babies. But she doesn’t plan on having any more.
“Ajax is a very healthy baby boy. He’s already about 16 pounds and in the 92nd percentile in height, as of his three-month check-up. He seems very happy for the most part,” said the proud mother.
Of course, Kotak and Bell didn’t stop their art there. The couple kept Ajax’s placenta in a freezer for a while, then Bell made a print from it and framed it. It was on view in the gallery and at Fountain Art Fair Miami, 2011.
“I’m working now on the first year of raising the child as a work of art, but I’m not sure how long the piece will go, as I ultimately see it as collaboration with Ajax. For now, I’m committing to one year, and will re-evaluate at the end of the year and decide whether or not to continue. I’m spending some time each day documenting my experiences with Ajax, his development, and our bond as mother and child.”
It’s all about highlighting the “beauty of human life,” she says.
“I’m recording his growth process, including his milestones, such as lifting his head, smiling, rolling over, cooing. I’m also taking a lot of footage breastfeeding the baby, in which I attempt to convey the beauty and depth of this experience.”
This one year show will also be held at Microscope Gallery. The work is still in progress, so Kotak is not sure yet how the space will be installed.
“Come to the show in October and see!”
“Raising Baby X” at Microscope Gallery [4 Charles Pl. at Myrtle Avenue and Bushwick Avenue in Bushwick, (347) 925-1433] October 2012. www.microscopegallery.com.
