Photography and Performance Art

The reading was about the purpose and effects of photography on performance art. It questioned if photography was as effective as experiencing the work or not. Even if it was not, the photograph expands the audience beyond those who were lucky enough to be in its presence. If not for video, photographs is still one of the most effective way to present a past performance to at least as proof that it did indeed happen.

I thought the article was interesting because of the concepts behind documentation. For example, would performance art even be considered art if it happened before the camera was invented? Even then, they would only have words and eyewitness accounts of said performance and its concept would have of had less of an impact.

I found it slightly surprising that Zhang Huan was included in the list of artists because I actually went to an exhibit of his last semester in NYC. His work was compelling in photographic form, but I found it more effective through video.
http://www.zhanghuan.com/