The transnational performative archive : documenting, archiving and curating performance art : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Abstract

The ephemeral nature of live performance art poses significant challenges to its documentation, archiving, and curation, leaving critical gaps in its representation within art history and institutional collections. These challenges are further complicated as performance art circulates across transnational contexts, raising essential questions about how performance archives can capture the essence of live works while fostering meaningful audience engagement. This thesis explores how performance art archives can transition from static repositories to dynamic, participatory spaces, enabling intercultural dialogue.

This interdisciplinary and transnational study draws on gallery, library, archive and museum (GLAM) studies, visual arts, as well as theatre and performance studies, to explore innovative archival and curatorial practices to address the inherent ephemerality of performance art. The inquiry employs autoethnography, participatory action research, and practice-based research methodologies to document contemporary performance artwork presented at the 11th UPON International Live Art Festival in Chengdu, China. The creative component of the research inquiry involved presenting a selection of these works to audiences in New Zealand as part of the exhibition Flow: Chinese Performance Art Documentation and Exhibition.

The thesis argues that audience participatory curatorial strategies and collaborative documentation practices can transform traditional archives into performative, living entities that engage audiences as active participants. By integrating audience experiences, these archives generate new, embodied knowledge, fostering intercultural exchange and expanding the scope of traditional documentation. The concept of the transnational performative archive is advanced as a curatorial strategy that shifts conventional approaches to archiving by emphasising the significant role of audience engagement in the construction of cross-border collaborative performance art archives. Unlike traditional archives which are often seen as static repositories of the past, the transnational performative archive is a dynamic process that evolves through intercultural interactions, reinterpretation, and audience engagement. This study contributes to the field by advancing the framework of the transnational performative archive, promoting how interdisciplinary and audience participatory strategies can enhance the representation and understanding of performance art across cultures.