Body Music I (1974)

Produced by Palestine at ArtTapes22 in Florence Italy these works are seminal performancebased exercises Palestine calls Body Music I a study in the vocalphysical responses of a species caught in an enclosed square room He begins this ritualistic piece sitting on the floor establishing an aural rhythm by banging his knees against its hard surface As his momentum builds and accelerates he rises and hurtles himself with intensity against the walls as if trying to escape from confinement Body Music II continues this physical intensity as Palestine wanders through the labyrinthine hallways of a villa recording with a handheld camera Moving faster and chanting into the reverberating space as though trying to escape he creates a frenetic visual translation of his physical movements and energy