Autumn Knight

Autumn Knight

Autumn
Knight

b. 1980       STUDIO IN HOUSTON, TX

Southern Region of USA
To be approached by a stranger can be an occasion for concern, even fear. Being proposed to on bended knee is one of the most poignant and memorable personal experiences in our lives. Autumn Knight unites these very different experiences in her work of performance art, I Propose That We… An unsuspecting viewer who becomes a participant in I Propose That We… is asked to commit to the artist’s proposal to live as decent human beings, act with compassion and without fear. The bonds created, though surprising and sudden, may last for years.
 
Drawing on her background in theater, Knight creates performance works that interrupt our everyday experiences—in art and non-art spaces. Her work brings to light actions and rituals that are not intended to be seen publicly, precipitating an unusual kind of voyeurism. Often addressing stereotypes related to gender and race, Knight also challenges assumptions and surprises viewers by directly engaging them in emotional moments.

From performance to performance, I’m trying to figure out what’s necessary, what can be expressed with as few words as possible. Does it need words? Is the environment where it’s created better than saying any words?

Autumn Knight