A guerrilla performance
Palazzo Cini, Venice
May 6, 2015
Hours performed: 1

With Ilya Pusenkoff, Lucio Salvatore, Marcello Pisu, Daniel Noah, Aleskey Afanasiev, Anna Shpilko, Constança Basto, Evelyn Sand, and Sara Sheikh

Photos by Ilya Pusenkoff, Marcello Pisu

20.30
The boat with a transparent glass box and 11 of us arrives to San Giorgio, Venice and parks from an empty side of Palazzo Cini where Fondation Pinault's event is taking place. The Pinault's collection has very little to do with performance art, and we would like to help it.

20.35
We open the box, I get undressed and put myself inside the box in a fetal position. In the meantime Lucio, Sara and Eve are checking the entrance. There are many guests arriving by private boats, and the security guys seem to be quite relaxed.

20.40
The box is being tightened by Noah and Anna using 18 screws, Aleksey helps to secure the belts.

20.45
Ilya notices a member of security team (no uniform) walking towards us to check what's going on - probably one of the guests saw our preparations and told them. Lucio, Constança and Anna think we should go immediately. Marcello and Noah think it's a good idea to simply crash through security. Sara and Eve suggest we walk slowly. Everybody agrees the box most probably will have to be dropped right at where they check the guestlist

20.50
There is no more time for discussions, we have to rush. Sara, Constança, Anna, and Eve are walking in front of the box as they look so sexy wearing a cocktail dress each and looking like yet three other rich and beautiful girls heading to Pinault's party.

20.52
The guard tries to stop the procession but Constança says: don't you see the artist is arriving? (And he steps back). The Bretagne pipes (cornemuses) are playing a very loud coda at the doors as we are passing through, and the paparazzi get crazy once they see what's going on. Surprisingly nobody stops us - except for one of the guards who is trying to get hold of Ilya - as Ilya is shooting the video

20.53
The box is being dropped inside Palazzo Cini in front of François Pinault and Gloria, Princess of Thurn and Taxis Princess of Germany (she immediately starts taking pictures). Lucio, Marcello, Noah and Aleskei remove the belts and run away. Sara, Eve and Constança pretend they have nothing to do with this and start taking pictures just like other guests. Almost every guest wants a photo. Ilya passes his camera to Anna just before they arrest him and take him backstage for investigation.

21.04
The two guards take the box and carry it towards the stuff door. They put the box on the side and try to open it but it seems to be impossible.

21.08
They knock on the glass and try to talk to me but I do not react. They call the police. Three guards stay on the sides of the box, and a few PR team members also remain in the area, and seem to be quite nervous. Still they are all taking pictures.

21.10
Apparently they detained Anna, and now they bring them to the box. Anna cannot help them to open it, neither she answer any questions.

21.33
Once the glass is broken, the performance is over.