Who’s Gonna Clean that up? The Mess of Performance Art

Caucasian woman with orange paint on her body getting in shower
Me about to destroy the shower with orange paint! Blurred for privacy!

After tiptoeing, paint-drenched, into the shower, scrubbing off the remnants of my latest body printing session, it struck me: the gritty, unglamorous aftermath of performance art. Surely, other artists drenched in paint, sweat, or even blood grapple with this too. Is this side of the art world a dirty little secret no one talks about?

Uncovering the Hidden Cleanup Stories

Yves Klein’s “Anthropometries“: Imagine nude models slathered in blue paint, pressing their bodies against canvases. The stark beauty of these prints belies the messy reality. Yet, the cleanup of paint-smeared bodies and studio floors rarely makes it into the artistic conversation. Why is that?

Carolee Schneemann’s “Interior Scroll: This notorious performance, involving bodily fluids and intimate materials, surely demanded meticulous cleanup. Despite its visceral impact, discussions seldom touch on the aftermath. Why do we gloss over the inevitable mess?

Chris Burden’s “Shoot: Picture this: an artist getting shot in the arm. The blood, the chaos—cleanup isn’t the focus, but the stark reality of such performances begs questions about the aftermath and space restoration. How do we reconcile the raw intensity with the practicalities of cleanup?

Joseph Beuys’ “I Like America and America Likes Me: Living with a coyote in a gallery for days must have left quite a mess. Yet, the substantial cleanup required remains an untold part of the performance’s lore. Why don’t we delve into the aftermath of such immersive experiences?

Orlan’s “Carnal Art: Orlan’s surgical performances transform the operating room into a stage. The post-surgery cleanup and recovery, though not often highlighted, are integral parts of her work. How does the reality of medical procedures intersect with art?

Photo of a woman very tan in a hat with orange background
Cindy Sherman, Untitled (Self Portrait with Sun Tan), Chromogenic print on Photo Paper with full margins, 76.2×50.5cm, 2003

Cindy Sherman’s Self-Portraits: Behind Sherman’s elaborate self-portraits lies a whirlwind of costumes, makeup, and sets. The cleanup—removing makeup, dismantling sets, organizing props—is a hidden layer of her artistic process. Why don’t we peek behind the curtain?

Photo of many people around a large salad
Alison Knowles’ Make a Salad Presented as part of UBS Openings: The Long Weekend – States of Flux, The Turbine Hall, Tate Modern

Alison Knowles’ “Make a Salad: This large-scale salad-making performance for audiences surely left a massive cleanup. While the focus is on the process and communal experience, the inevitable mess isn’t discussed. How does the artist manage the aftermath?

Mierle Laderman Ukeles’ “Maintenance Art: Ukeles flips the script, making cleaning and maintenance the art itself. By cleaning public spaces, she highlights the often-invisible labor of maintenance workers. Her work directly engages with the cleanup process, turning it into a performance.

Marina Abramović’s “The Artist is Present“: This marathon performance at MoMA took a toll on both the artist and the space. While the focus isn’t on cleanup, the physical and spatial aftermath underscores the intensity of long-duration performances. Shouldn’t we talk more about the aftermath?

A Call for Cleanup Conversations ?

Cleanup is a fundamental, yet often ignored, aspect of performance art.  As these acts are intrinsic to the art form, why do we sidestep this topic? Is it deemed too mundane or unworthy of critical attention?

In my body printing work, I’ve filmed the process but never addressed the inevitable cleanup. Yet, it’s a crucial part of the physicality and reality of my art. Should it be part of the narrative? Is it too rudimentary or simply overlooked?

I kinda want to explore the messy, raw, and real aspects of performance art. Let’s dive into the dirt and see what it reveals about the art we cherish–share your clean-up stories!

[To note, clean-up is obviously considered, notably by large scale installation artists and/or temporary public pieces, but, as far as I can find, hasn’t been a topic of note in performance.]

people cleaning up paint on a gallery floor
Made with OpenAI**all of the images prompted “cleaning up after performance art” depicted female cleaners.