Reichstag;
Nude Against the Light
Where the last remaining fragments of wall stand as a monument to the city's past, on the opposite side of the River Spree, I kneel on the steps over-hung with archways to wash my hair. Foam mingles with the snow, as together they emit a white purity into clear, crisp winter air.
People pass and do not see.
1993
Super-8mm black and white film transferred to video with no sound
Location: Berlin, Germany
Duration: 40 mins
Super-8mm Camera: Rachel Davies
This performance took place on the steps of the Reichstag for around 40 minutes. Crouched in the snow of a February afternoon, the shampoo gently mingled with the snow before dissipating.
This work is one of a series of performance works where the artist uses water and/or her hair to perform an act in a richly redolent location that leaves no trace.
The Reichstag is one of Germany’s most iconic landmarks, home of the Bundestag and a symbol of Berlin’s complicated history and the country’s reunification.