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ED2013 3/5 Reviews ED2013 Theatre Reviews
Mucus Factory (Martin O’Brien / Escalator East To Edinburgh)
By Julian Joseph | Published on Tuesday 20 August 2013
Performance artist Martin O’Brien suffers from cystic fibrosis, a disease which causes the body to create excess mucus. This five hour performance illustrates his endurance through this chronic illness by exhibiting the time consuming exercises he must practise daily to clear his airways. Though this raises awareness and works as an evocative piece of performance art, particularly an exercise that involves violently slapping his chest for several minutes, the piece has other aspects that don’t fit. For example, O’Brien collects mucus in plastic containers throughout, rubbing it over his body and hair. Though this might have conceptual meaning, it seems too abstracted from the performance to have an effect, helping create an overall sense of alienation towards the artist rather than empathy.
Pleasance Hunt and Darton Café, 12 Aug, 6.00pm.
tw rating 3/5 | [Julian Joseph]
