Examines five performance/artworks: The Artist is Present (2010) by Marina Abramović; The Deer Shelter Skyscape (2007) by James Turrell; CAT (1998) by Ansuman Biswas; Journey to the Lower World by Marcus Coates (2004); and the work with pollen by Wolfgang Laib.

Text from www.mishaproductions.com“Performances:Arnolfini, Bristol, 2010. Old Police Station, Belfast, 2010. La Tabacalera, Madrid, 2010.Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, 2010. Duration:Various from set ritual to open duration of 2-5 hours.Rationale:To invoke the spirit of the Raven archetype. To awaken movements towards transformation and rebirth.Description:The performer marks a sacred space / circle. She dons a Raven headdress. As she steps into the sacred space she begins a ritual of transformation. The performer calls the spirit of the Raven into her body. She makes actions/gestures/movements to symbolically cut away the old flesh and then to ingest the old/dead body. She drums and raises the energy to alchemically transform the old into something new. The symbol of the Raven is one that stands at the threshold between death and rebirth. The final action is to wash the body with milk for purification. This item is part of the Study Room Guide On Performance in China by Adele Tan (P1114)