Allan Kaprow, in 1959, "coined" the phrase "a happening". It is basically an in intervention which is preformed or shown in an identified space. Allan Kaprow used galleries, however Happenings are not limited to the walls of a galley. However, a Happening could go the other way as a group called Pussy Riot get their Happenings across in forms of riots. Both these examples are drastic opposites of each other and my happening will be a safe and happy mixture of the two.
For my Happening I used a project I completed in a virtual lesson, which wasn’t completely finished but I tried to make it work as we only had a certain amount of time. While I was making the project (which was a new version of my "to drop" work, due to a "What If") I was making notes about what I was doing and what was going through my head at the same time. I turned that into a recording in an automated voice.
I then decided that I would do my Happening outside where it was peaceful and natural, which is opposite to what I was feeling when I was making this. Also, I placed the product on a bush with green leaves as red is greens contrasting colour, again highlighting the opposites within this Happening. The words complete the Happening as allows the viewer to find the contrast between the space and the Happening itself. It suggests that even if the outside looks serene, deeper down it is probably not all cheery and tranquil- this could apply to people or spaces or objects.
This is the Happening:
I overall enjoyed making a Happening, even though I was a bit unsure about it in the beginning. It make me think about how I could portray what I was thinking in a way I have never tried before, or even knew about. I would definitely want to create a Happening again! I am not an entirely confident person which is why I was surprised at myself for actually enjoying this task.
At the end of the lecture I was asked a question which has given me hope that I will be making another Happening again, whether it's one I plan and do on my own time or it's one we do in class:
What if WE create a Happening?
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