S H E L L S- AOAKE

This is the end of the performance Shells performed by Hana Aoake, and Glue Gallery in Dunedin. At the start of the performance when we entered the space, we found her lying under a sheet surrounded by egg shells. The audience was invited to stand on, and crush the egg shells. Every time someone did, Aoake writhed under the sheet like the sound was enough to twist all her nerve endings.

The reason I really loved this performance is because the audience wasn't forced into participating. If you wanted to, you could crush the shells and watch her reaction, but you didn't have to. I did.  It was like by doing it you had absolute control over her. It was enthralling, all consuming and made you feel like you had physically hurt her, not just crushed an egg shell. By allowing the audience to decide whether or not to participate, Aoake created a safe space to - in effect - hurt her. It was allowed and it was accepted. It was  a beautiful abstraction of domestic violence - literally walking on egg shells.

It was a beautiful, well considered and very classical performance I enjoyed thoroughly. It was rad!!!