Trigger — Closing Ceremony of the Performance Art Workshop

Trigger and Simultaneous Triggering

“Trigger” is the decisive moment when the body rapidly reacts during an action. It is also a phased state in a performance art class, representing the body’s response to its surroundings at a particular instant. Such moments are merely beginnings, followed by more ways to “think” through the body and actions. Understanding how to trigger the body becomes crucial in contemplating the scientific and complex nature of the performance art class.

This exhibition begins with the “Trigger” performance art workshop led by the artist Zhou Bin. All participating artists are students from this workshop, which started on September 12 at 10:00 and ended on September 16 at 17:00. It lasted for five days, with seven hours each day and no breaks.

Throughout the workshop, time was a very necessary factor accompanying the body. Zhou Bin’s lesson plans meticulously noted each day’s activities: 420 minutes in total, with 15 minutes for opening remarks, 20 minutes for introductions, 30 minutes for discussions, 15 minutes for a particular exercise, and so on. The time was precisely divided. During the individual practice sessions of the students, we observed that everyone’s timing—from thinking to engaging the body to the body initiating action—was entirely unique. In outdoor exercises, the timing of observation by others, their interventions, and moving into the next spatial choice also seemed invisibly calculated. Returning to each student’s bodily training experience, their understanding and use of their bodies in the course were honestly reflected.

These periods cultivated the instantaneous power of triggering. Our bodies have the capability for sudden enlightenment, but today, our innate perception of the body is replaced by massive external information, overloading our brains. Thus, we can neither enjoy relaxed enthusiasm nor fully engage in intense concentration. I particularly like a phrase Zhou Bin used in introducing the workshop: “The workload is substantial, requiring full mental and physical focus.” Such courses like “Trigger” are profoundly important, and we look forward to this exhibition lasting 180 minutes on one evening.

Special thanks to teaching assistants Song Hui-ren and Yang Junfeng for their significant support for this “Trigger” project!

Project Planner: Tian Naiwei

Project Assistants: Qiu Yue, Wang Jieya