Lilibeth Cuenca Rasmussen The Artist's Song 2007 video (16mm film transferred to DVD) [large detail of still from video]
Lilibeth Cuenca Rasmussen's terrific rap take on the state/hotness of the current art scene was one of the most entertaining performances, live or recorded, I witnessed at the Miami art fairs. The video was presented by Copenhagen's Kirkhoff gallery.
The gallery supplied this description in a statement which accompanied Rasmussen's solo show this past spring:
In the film, "The Artist's Song", the artist sings about (in)famous works from the history of art which have influenced the concept of art, just like [her live performances at the March 10 opening]. The film also deals with an artist's dream of fame and immortality as an incentive behind the works. The film shows the artist at the museum Glyptoteket in Copenhagen, dressed as a sculpture on a pedestal and surrounded by classicistic sculptures. Her descriptions of the competetive art scene, the various positions, the artist's dreams and ambitions become both general and personal statements. The film is part of Lilibeth Cuenca Rasmussen's work with identity, whether it is nationality, gender, religion or as in this exhibition - the identity as an artist.I was already sorry that I missed the Brooklyn Museum show, "Global Feminisms", also mounted this spring, but learning now that the artist was a part of it makes me want to kick myself.
To watch Rasmussen talking about her work, showing excerpts from some of her videos, click onto this image:
ADDENDUM: Rasmussen will have a solo show here in New York at the Renwick gallery in February. It will feature reenactments of performances, including "The Artist's Song". I wouldn't miss it.
[second image/clip from Brooklyn Museum]