Annie Sprinkle: Having been a prostitute and porn star for many years, I wanted to express what I was interested in personally (beyond being a fantasy) which was more complex.
Annie Sprinkle
Mandy Morrison
Annie Sprinkle: Having been a prostitute and porn star for many years, I wanted to express what I was interested in personally (beyond being a fantasy) which was more complex. Plus I wanted to change audiences. Stripping had one kind of audience, and performance art had another. I could do similar things, and it would have a different meaning in different
contexts with different audiences. Mainstream sex industry audience had its charms, but I just adored an art audience.
MM: Audiences tend to be both fascinated, as well as intimidated, by Confrontational work. What benefits does the viewer derive from this experience and how do you think this can affect a larger politic?
AS: Where there is "confrontation," there is energy and excitement. People want to see something they have never seen, which sparks thought and conversation, moving society along. My work was part of what is called the "sex positive feminist movement" of the 80s. It was shocking to say "Hey, I really love all kinds of sex, I like to show my naked body, I love to be promiscuous." Now women are far more liberated sexually and some taboos have been fixed. My most potent performance was Legend of the Sacred Prostitute masturbation ritual. While some were horrified, many told me it was very healing and liberating; their own shame lifted. (You can read more about it on my web site.) It’s great to have your mind stretched or blown.
MM: What types of performances or experiences have been the most provocative and meaningful to you personally (or in the case of a group, collectively)? Why?
AS: Linda Montano does amazing duration pieces, living her life as art in seven-year cycles. Her new book Letters from Linda is my artist bible. Also the Fluxus artists. A former boyfriend was the European chairman of Fluxus, Willem De Ridder. He taught me that great art could be funny, absurd and outrageous. Ron Athey’s work is inspiring, He and his troupe do amazing things with their bodies in the most eye-gasmic way. Orlan, Marina Abromovic… strong women artists, like Karen Finely, Lydia Lunch, Diamonda Galas.
MM: Do you think that American culture as a whole has become more passive regarding the political issues affecting them or merely preoccupied?
AS: How can we measure what is apathy, and what is people feeling that some things are beyond their control? It would seem many people are asleep, because of the Iraq war. If we got it together to protest in creative and powerful ways, we could stop the war, (like with Viet Nam). Yet, many artists I know are struggling financially. So politics and protesting seems to be a luxury of time, unless it’s through art. The economy may be booming for some, but lots of artists I know aren’t benefiting. Everyone is busy trying to pay for exorbitant health insurance bills, there isn’t always time to march.
MM: Do you think that contemporary artists (and the art community as a
whole) generally veers towards certain types of practices for reasons of fashion, conviction or economics?
AS: The art world embraces exciting, innovative, provocative work. For an artist, timing is extremely important. Certainly being good at self-promotion is crucial. Linda Montano —my favorite artist— just doesn’t do promo. So she’s not getting her Whitney retrospective— yet. Usually artists who are financially dependant on their artwork have to be somewhat conscious of what is sellable and fashionable. But that’s not necessarily bad. Look at Lee Bowery! His work was all about fashion and so fabulous. Currently I ‘m collaborating with my life partner, artist Elizabeth Stephens, trying to balance out some of the violence in the world which is fueled by our conviction that love is a powerful weapon. Of course the challenge is to make artwork about love that isn’t schmaltzy and cliché. While it’s coming from a deep place, honestly, I would say that, fashion and finances also influence us. But that’s not bad, its just life.
Bio
Since 1989 Annie Sprinkle has toured theater performances about her
life. Her autobiography, "Post Porn Modernist" is now a cult classic.
Her book, "Hard Core From the Heart; The Pleasures, Profits and
Politics of Sex in Performance" won the Firecracker Alternative Book
Award (2002). Sprinkle and partner Elizabeth M. Stephens, are now booking their new theater piece Post Porn Love. See www.loveartlab.org.
