STUPID WOMAN 4, 1981 (1-9/9)

The next stage of the second phase of the performance „Stupid Woman” Ewa Partum has presented at the Dziekanka Workshop in Warsaw on 20 November 1981. It was a modified version of previous implementation at the gallery BWA Kraków.

„STUPID WOMAN
... so the feelings can be chosen, which we want to accept, similarly to the actor choosing himself a suit.

Today it will be ambition, tomorrow – love desire...

Thus, a mistake can be made, if this schizophrenic world was considered as a stream of wealth and shining, which replace the monotony of reality...
If I can imagine so many love scenes, it is not because I was disappointed in my love, but because I am not capable of loving anymore.
... to be beautiful
... smell wonderfully
... be nice to my audience
... be true”.

Ewa Partum

„Puts lipstick on her lips, holds a fan in her hand, sings to music of Marcel Duchamp and declaims an already known text „be beautiful” etc. Speaks in the microphone about care and cosmetics, which she has with her. Her lecture is of substantial and ironic nature. At this time, an assistant appears, who serves her a glass of wine on a tray many times. The audience has more and more impression that the artist is under the influence of alcohol and loses control over her. It looks like she has drunk a lot. In the meantime, she throws serpentines and dollar banknotes to the audience, kisses the hands of male viewers and asks questions: Do you like me? Do you love me? In case of a positive answer she demands written confirmation. Offers alcohol and kisses also to the audience. When men are drinking, she pours alcohol on her head (which would cause great headache if it took longer). The situation progresses this way further. The end of performance is tiredness of the artist, who takes off the lights and goes out”.

[Ewa Partum 1965-2001. Polish edition of the texts from the catalogue: EWA PARTUM 1965-2001. Badischer Kunstverein Karlsruhe. Warsaw 2006]

Courtesy of Artum Fundacja Ewa Partum Museum and Tomasz Sikorski.