STREET PERFORMANCE : TRANSGRESSION AND ART IN THE PUBLIC REALM

Abstract

This paper argues for the importance of transgression in public space. Transgression is a deviation from the social ‘norms’ and conduct in the urban realm. Hence it opens up new possibilities, ways of acting and interpretation in public space. It directs us to pay attention to certain aspects of public space that are overlooked by urban planners and architects. The ‘other’ qualities of public space that this dissertation wants to look into are spontaneity, playful behavior, intimate encounters and democracy. Theories will be proposed and studied to gain more insight on the importance of these aspects of public space. To have a better understanding, an urban activity, street performance will be analyzed to measure its contribution to the dimension of placemaking and how it can be seen as a public art. Street performance have been stereotyped by many as begging in the public and as an activity that is useless and threatening to the image of the city. Therefore, its presence on the streets is being regarded as a transgressive act. However, this paper argues that street performance does contributes to a more colourful and vibrant street life and is an art of sharing creativity with the public. Next, case studies on street performance around the world and in Singapore from different context and of different typologies will be further analyzed to help us understand how street performance plays a vital role in different urban situations. For overseas case studies, three different settings are chosen namely the subway station, street and marketplace. It will discuss how the spaces are conceived differently by the street performance and how it is transformed into a place that belongs to the performer and audience. The typologies range from human statues, body art, busking and magicians. The paper will discuss and analyze how street performance highlight these qualities of public space and what are the performers’ relationship and interaction with the urban space and the public they perform to. In addition, the paper also wishes to discuss the status of Singapore street performance and understand the complexity of its public space. It will also be examined to understand how transgression comes in differently in different contexts. Lastly, this paper aims to conclude that a transgressive act like street performance has the capability to act as an avenue for exploring aspects of public space that have been neglected. Hence through this urban study, we can have a better understanding of the complexity of public space by gaining more ways of perceiving and interpreting. We are able to conceive a more complete form of public space and not be skewed to living only in the dimension portrayed by the authorities.