This performance was a simulation of the artist’s opening speech at the vernissage.
It examined the ritual of the opening event and questioned the behaviours that are considered appropriate in such a context.

Formally, it referenced a viral satirical video by Jools Lebron in which she describes appropriate behaviour in the workplace. In the video, she explains how modest and mindful she presents herself, and what she absolutely would not do.

This was combined with trends such as the crying selfie, which commercializes vulnerable emotions on social media in the name of authenticity, and other memes that revolve around the theme of failure. What happens when this same behaviour is transferred into an analogue space?

" ... I’m also very mindful of how I present myself in this context. I’ll make myself a little vulnerable, but not too much—that’s not cute. Nobody wants to hear that—not cute at all. I would never say things like: 

My name is Alicia, I'm 41 years old and I can't help but feel that I'm not where I'm supposed to be in life. I'm recently perimenopausal, I wake up drenched in sweat at night, and the skin of my neck as started to sag. I know I'm still young, but why do I feel like I'm always so behind? Trying to keep up with societies pace on a path that's not even mine? This is a race I'll never win. Because I'm so well trained to be unsatisfied I'll run straight past happy in chase of better. I fantasize about giving up a lot, because then if I fail I'll know exactly why! That just seems much easier than to try my hardest and still feeling like this. Comparison has robbed me empty and I've forgotten how to be kind to myself. Maybe I never knew to begin with. But also, I miss being regular sad about the world and not like catastrophically worried and miserably horrified. "

The work was part of Alicia Agustíns solo exhibition Funny yes but not Funny Haha at Kunstverein Hildesheim. ( 26.10.2024 - 15.12.2024 )                                     

https://www.kunstverein-hildesheim.de/ausstellungen/funny-yes-but-not-funny-haha/

Funny yes but not Funny Haha was conceived as a site-specific work and developed collaboratively.                        

Concept, Performance: Alicia Agustín                                                                                                                                                                  

Artistic collaboration, exhibition design, production management : Charlotte Rosengarth
Project collaboration: Polly Bruchlos
Sound design: Gabor Csongradi                                                                                                                                                                                    

📸 Lâm Nguyễn Tiến