Sydney-based artist Sylvia Schwenk fuses photography with performance art in her complex and socially conscious works. Gathering large groups of participants, Schwenk organizes conceptual performance pieces within urban settings. Each performance, normally set in an international city, is intended to highlight a particular contemporary social issue. Just as her chosen locations are centers for public interaction, Schwenk’s pieces intend to engage the general public, bringing the realm of fine art to the masses, and thus encouraging meaningful civic discourse. Schwenk documents each performance with photographs and the resulting images serve not only as visual records, but instead become stunning graphic images with an almost surreal clarity.
Born in Germany, Sylvia Schwenk has spent the majority of her life in Australia. The acclaimed artist is the recipient of the prestigious University of Sydney Post-Graduate award and has exhibited her work internationally; with shows in Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United States and Vietnam.
My artwork is generally socially based interventions performed in the urban landscape of different cities by local participants. The key challenge of my artwork is to engage people that do not go to art galleries or museums. My interventions are usually performed in shared public spaces that encourage people to stop and watch my art actions as they go about their everyday life. I would like my art to encourage thought about important social issues and to create awareness and discussion.
