Trace History of a Performance: The Transitions (1987) by Siim-Tanel Annus
Trace History of a Performance: The Transitions (1987) by Siim-Tanel Annus

Summary/Abstract: The Transitions by Siim-Tanel Annus was a major performance art event in 1987, and took place at the height of the liberation movement in Estonia. In this article, the different forms in which the performance has survived will be explored. The analysis will revolve around the notion of ‘trace’ and will argue that the afterlife of the art event is as important as, or even more meaningful than, the original performance. The significance of The Transitions lies in its intertwinement of art and politics, which only happened in retrospect and was not the original intention of the artist. This case also demonstrates how unforeseeable developments around a performance come to dictate its later interpretation.

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