Born: January 24, 1940, New York City, USA
Died: April 27, 2017, New York City, USA
Nationality: American
Style: Performance Art, Body Art, Video Art
Influences: Conceptual Art, Minimalism, psychoanalysis
"I'm trying to create a situation in which there is no distance between the artist and the viewer."
Notable Artwork
Seedbed (1972)
About Vito Acconci
Born: January 24, 1940, New York City, USA Died: April 27, 2017, New York City, USA Nationality: American Style: Performance Art, Body Art, Video Art Influences: Conceptual Art, Minimalism, psychoanalysis Major Exhibitions: “Seedbed” (1972), “Following Piece” (1969), “Theme Song” (1973) Quote: “I’m trying to create a situation in which there is no distance between the artist and the viewer.”
Notable Artwork: Seedbed (1972)
For this performance, Acconci lay hidden beneath a ramp in a gallery, masturbating and vocalizing his fantasies about the visitors walking above him. His voice was amplified throughout the gallery.
Significance
Seedbed is a provocative exploration of sexuality, voyeurism, and the relationship between public and private space. It challenges the traditional boundaries between the artist and the audience, creating an unsettling and intimate experience.