Robin Deacon
Encyclopedia
Robin Deacon is an artist
, writer
and filmmaker currently based in the USA. Working since the early 1990’s, much of his work encompasses live performance with a series of performed lectures that have explored journalistic and documentary
approaches to arts practice. His work is characterised by a humorous and often satirical approach to the subject matter.
His performances and videos have been presented in the UK and internationally in venues such as The ICA
, London (1996), The Young Vic
, London (2000), CCCB
, Barcelona (2006), Tanzquartier Wein, Vienna (2007) and the Centre d'art Scenique Contemporain Lausanne, Switzerland (2009). He has also been artist in residence at Sophiensaele in Berlin (2005), Camden Arts Centre
London (2006) and Robert Wilson
's Watermill Center, New York, USA (2009). Recently, he has become known for his works in political biography
, with a series of performances on the lives of former US Secretary of State Colin Powell
(2004 – 08) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel
(2005). These works have a strong multimedia element and are often rewritten in response to prevailing news events regarding their subject. The use of recorded interviews (some recorded covertly) is a key element of these and later performances.
Current projects include a documentary film on the life of late US American performance artist Stuart Sherman, currently in production. His recent performance piece Prototypes (2006 – 09) stylistically referenced the output of documentary films produced by the British Transport Commission
. Latest works include a re-staging of Stuart Sherman's ensemble version of Hamlet (A portrait), shown as part of the Sacred: US Radical season at London's Chelsea Theatre
, as well as a new spoken word solo piece The Argument Against the Body (2010). He is Assistant Professor in Performance at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
, writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and filmmaker currently based in the USA. Working since the early 1990’s, much of his work encompasses live performance with a series of performed lectures that have explored journalistic and documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
approaches to arts practice. His work is characterised by a humorous and often satirical approach to the subject matter.
His performances and videos have been presented in the UK and internationally in venues such as The ICA
Institute of Contemporary Arts
The Institute of Contemporary Arts is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. It is located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch...
, London (1996), The Young Vic
The Young Vic
The Young Vic is a theatre on the Cut, located near the South Bank, in the London Borough of Lambeth. It specialises in giving opportunities to young actors and directors. The theatre is publicly subsidised and has a high artistic reputation. Playwright David Lan has been the theatre's artistic...
, London (2000), CCCB
Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona
The Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona is one of the most visited exhibition and arts centres in the city of Barcelona.Situated in the Raval district, the Centre’s core theme is the city and urban culture...
, Barcelona (2006), Tanzquartier Wein, Vienna (2007) and the Centre d'art Scenique Contemporain Lausanne, Switzerland (2009). He has also been artist in residence at Sophiensaele in Berlin (2005), Camden Arts Centre
Camden Arts Centre
Camden Arts Centre is a contemporary visual art gallery, dedicated to engaging living artists from across the world. Positioning the artist at the centre of the programme, Camden Arts Centre strives to involve the public in the ideas and work of today's artists.The exhibition and education...
London (2006) and Robert Wilson
Robert Wilson (director)
Robert Wilson is an American avant-garde stage director and playwright who has been called "[America]'s — or even the world's — foremost vanguard 'theater artist'". Over the course of his wide-ranging career, he has also worked as a choreographer, performer, painter, sculptor, video...
's Watermill Center, New York, USA (2009). Recently, he has become known for his works in political biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
, with a series of performances on the lives of former US Secretary of State Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
(2004 – 08) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel
Angela Dorothea Merkel is the current Chancellor of Germany . Merkel, elected to the Bundestag from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, has been the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union since 2000, and chairwoman of the CDU-CSU parliamentary coalition from 2002 to 2005.From 2005 to 2009 she led a...
(2005). These works have a strong multimedia element and are often rewritten in response to prevailing news events regarding their subject. The use of recorded interviews (some recorded covertly) is a key element of these and later performances.
Current projects include a documentary film on the life of late US American performance artist Stuart Sherman, currently in production. His recent performance piece Prototypes (2006 – 09) stylistically referenced the output of documentary films produced by the British Transport Commission
British Transport Commission
The British Transport Commission was created by Clement Attlee's post-war Labour government as a part of its nationalisation programme, to oversee railways, canals and road freight transport in Great Britain...
. Latest works include a re-staging of Stuart Sherman's ensemble version of Hamlet (A portrait), shown as part of the Sacred: US Radical season at London's Chelsea Theatre
Chelsea Theatre
Chelsea Theatre is a studio theatre located on the Kings Road in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London. It presents, commissions, and produces new work and is the only theatre in London dedicated to Performance Art...
, as well as a new spoken word solo piece The Argument Against the Body (2010). He is Assistant Professor in Performance at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Performance
- The Argument Against the Body (2010)
- Approximating the Art of Stuart Sherman (2009)
- Prototypes (2006/2009)
- Dispatches (2005)
- Whatever Happened to Colin Powell? (2004/2008)
- Harry and Me (2004/2005)
- Double O (2001)
- The Costello Show (with Laurence Harvey) (2000)
- Confessions of an Idiot (2000)
- Hard Water and Other Objects (1999)
- Employee of the Month (1998)
- Monopoly (1997)
Film
- A Portrait of Stuart Sherman (in production)
- Words in my Mouth (4 min, 2007)
- They Used to Call it a White Elephant (35 min, 2006)
- What is a Performance Artist? (3 min, 2005)
- Passionate About (5 min, 2000)
External links
- The artists website and archive
- http://www.artsadmin.co.uk/artists/robin-deacon
- http://www.britishcouncil.org/arts-performanceinprofile-2010-robin-deacon.htm
Further reading
- Deacon, R. 'Are They Really Norwegian?' chapter published in Performance Art By Baktruppen: First Part (Eds. Ove-Arntzen, K. & Eeg-Tverbakk, C.) Kontur Publishing, (2009)
- Bailey, D and Shah, R. (eds.) Documenting Live Live Art Development Agency (2008)
- Turner, C. & Behrndt, S. Dramaturgy and Performance Palgrave MacMillan (2007)
- Frank, T and Waugh, M. (eds.) We Love You: On Audiences Revolver (2005)
- McGilp, A. Do Not Interrupt Your Activities Royal College of ArtRoyal College of ArtThe Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
(2005)
- Sofaer, J. The Performance Pack TateTate-Places:*Tate, Georgia, a town in the United States*Tate County, Mississippi, a county in the United States*Táté, the Hungarian name for Totoi village, Sântimbru Commune, Alba County, Romania*Tate, Filipino word for States...
/Arts Council England (2004)