The #OrangeVest performance is a public intervention about the refugee crisis in Europe. The visual language of the piece refers to the refugees’ trip from Turkey to Greece. As part of the action, a group of people wear black clothes and orange life vests. They walk around New York City in order to raise awareness about the antagonism that the refugees are facing on the other side of the world. The performance is based on the usage of public spaces in the city and attempts to create an aesthetic balance between a protest and work of art. Despite having elements of a protest, the performers don’t disturb everyday public routines. The participants are simply present and quiet. The piece is not intended to force the viewer to interact or to take a position. Rather it is to encourage the audience to seek out information about the refugee crisis. The piece was performed one a month from October 2015 to October 2016, in several landmarks on New York City, in Philadelphia, in Washington D.C. and at the European Quarters in Brussels.
Bibliography
Performance Art: The Basics, A beginner’s course guide by Angeliki Avgitidou. Published by University Studio Press. Academia.edu
Basil and Elise Goulandris Foundation Magazine, The 15th Volume.
Selected Press
Object Biographies, Sofia Grigoriadou, “Life Vests and Blankets”
A Women’s Thing, Alana Chloe Esposito, “Performance Art Project #OrangeVest Sends SOS for Refugees”.
“#OrangeVest” is a commentary on the journey of the Syrian refugees. I’m from Greece and I intend to create an art project about the refugees’ trip between Turkey and Greece while they try to cross the Aegean Sea. This art piece is a participatory performance, a sculpture and a protest. My purpose is to bring this tough reality inside the everyday routine of New York City.
This art piece is an intervention in public spaces. My group and I wear life vests and walk into public and private authorized areas (Metropolitan Museum of Arts, Times Square, High Line Park and Brooklyn Bridge). I’m willing to disrupt the everyday routine with a piece of reality that people are not expecting to see there. The public is invited to interact with the piece by open the conversation “Why you are wearing a life vest?”or by totally ignoring the performers in a manner reminiscent of the way that many in the public refuse to see this refugees’ crisis as a global phenomenon.
“#OrangeVest” is a project in process.Information about the up coming performance will be announced soon.