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BODY PARTS - press release

Body Parts encompasses the breadth of quality Performance Art in the UK today and will be held in RSA Gallery 9. The artists will explore such ideas as social rituals, personal boundaries, mafia burial sites and mental health. Reflecting their interest in low grade meat products, consumption and cannibalism, Beagles & Ramsay take grotesque self-portraiture to the extreme with 'Sanguis Gratia Artis' – a distillation of the very essence of the artist's juices - their own blood! Featuring the best and most experimental of new performance in Scotland, expect the spectacular!

In addition to a continuous timetable of performances, the 9-10 February will see a number of exciting talks and workshops held in the NGS's Weston Link Lecture Theatre by well-known names such as Billy Cowie, George Wylie and Cynthia Whelan. Lisa Keiko Kirton is also calling for any 16-19 year olds to come and help realise her new performance work about body image and style.

Performance Art Festivals are a rare occurrence in Edinburgh, where the genre has held a relatively low profile since Richard Demarco and Joseph Beuys burst onto the scene in the early 1970's. In the past few years there has been a resurgence of Performance Art in Edinburgh with many notable examples of performance artists working in the capital. Glasgow's National Review of Live Art has run for many years, bringing together artists and performers to present and debate their work. Edinburgh however, has lacked the previous momentum to create such specially organised festivals…..until now. Body Parts provides this much needed platform and the Festival is a testament to the increasing popularity and appreciation of this art form!

Colin Greenslade, RSA Exhibitions Coordinator said;
"When Kate Downie, President of the SSA came to me and suggested a live art festival and I jumped at the opportunity to get involved. Kate saw the project as extension of a long legacy of experimentation and innovation presented by the SSA in the RSA Building. I saw it as a natural and valid inclusion in a space which is already showing what is deemed to be ‘challenging’ contemporary visual art. "

"Live art is not new. Its development through the 20th Century has been a rapid and exciting affair. Influential artists such as George Wyllie have pioneered and developed live art in Scotland for some 30+ years. Joseph Beuys, invited by Professor Richard Demarco OBE, visited on a number of occasions and developed works such as the seminal ‘Der Aktion: Celtic’ at Edinburgh College of Art in 1970. In an effort to ‘keep it simple’, artists at Body Parts are allocated one hour slots, tempting us with a glimpse of their world and their vision. Journey through the physical, visual, aural, contemplative and interactive delights of live performance. Don’t miss history in the making."

Admission Free

Web Link: http://www.royalscottishacademy.org/pages/exhibition_frame.asp?id=99

	BODY PARTS - press release

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	Body Parts encompasses the breadth of quality Performance Art in the UK today and will be held in RSA Gallery 9. The artists will explore such ideas as social rituals, personal boundaries, mafia burial sites and mental health. Reflecting their interest in low grade meat products, consumption and cannibalism, Beagles & Ramsay take grotesque self-portraiture to the extreme with 'Sanguis Gratia Artis' – a distillation of the very essence of the artist's juices - their own blood! Featuring the best and most experimental of new performance in Scotland, expect the spectacular! In addition to a continuous timetable of performances, the 9-10 February will see a number of exciting talks and workshops held in the NGS's Weston Link Lecture Theatre by well-known names such as Billy Cowie, George Wylie and Cynthia Whelan. Lisa Keiko Kirton is also calling for any 16-19 year olds to come and help realise her new performance work about body image and style. Performance Art Festivals are a rare occurrence in Edinburgh, where the genre has held a relatively low profile since Richard Demarco and Joseph Beuys burst onto the scene in the early 1970's. In the past few years there has been a resurgence of Performance Art in Edinburgh with many notable examples of performance artists working in the capital. Glasgow's National Review of Live Art has run for many years, bringing together artists and performers to present and debate their work. Edinburgh however, has lacked the previous momentum to create such specially organised festivals…..until now. Body Parts provides this much needed platform and the Festival is a testament to the increasing popularity and appreciation of this art form! Colin Greenslade, RSA Exhibitions Coordinator said; "When Kate Downie, President of the SSA came to me and suggested a live art festival and I jumped at the opportunity to get involved. Kate saw the project as extension of a long legacy of experimentation and innovation presented by the SSA in the RSA Building. I saw it as a natural and valid inclusion in a space which is already showing what is deemed to be ‘challenging’ contemporary visual art. " "Live art is not new. Its development through the 20th Century has been a rapid and exciting affair. Influential artists such as George Wyllie have pioneered and developed live art in Scotland for some 30+ years. Joseph Beuys, invited by Professor Richard Demarco OBE, visited on a number of occasions and developed works such as the seminal ‘Der Aktion: Celtic’ at Edinburgh College of Art in 1970. In an effort to ‘keep it simple’, artists at Body Parts are allocated one hour slots, tempting us with a glimpse of their world and their vision. Journey through the physical, visual, aural, contemplative and interactive delights of live performance. Don’t miss history in the making." Admission Free Web Link: http://www.royalscottishacademy.org/pages/exhibition_frame.asp?id=99