There are some artists that take extreme measures for the sake of creating a masterpiece, but none quite like renowned artist Marni Kotak. If all goes as planned, Kotak’s next big move for her art will be a live birth. She has made arrangement with Microscope Gallery in New York City to give birth in front of a live audience. The performance will be known as “The Birth of Baby X.”
Kotak finds inspiration in daily events, making a special moment into a work of art to be shared with the world. Past performances have reenacted the artist losing her virginity, her own birth, and even the decay of her first marriage. It is safe to say that Kotak is no stranger to unconventional stage performances. She is constantly looking for ways to connect with her audience and share her experiences with them. Her past performances aim to bring key life experiences back to life as realistically as possible, and this upcoming one is no different.
The Microscope Gallery in New York was recently converted into a birthing room. Kotak brought items she wished present during the process, including a bed that belong to her grandmother and an old rocking chair she was once rocked in herself. All preparations have been scheduled around the time of her due date. This lack of certainty in when the performance will take place is what distinguishes it from past pieces. Allowing her audience to view the live birth of her child will be more real-life than performance, giving Kotak the goal she aims for in showing how real-life events are artwork.
What also makes this performance stand apart from her other ones is its planned continuation. After her child is born, Kotak will follow up with an exhibit entitled “Raising Baby X.” The piece will show the everyday tasks that encompass raising her child. Kotak claims the most interesting performances happen “when we are not aware we are performing,” and this is what she is constantly striving for.
