More and more, these days, the question of whether art-imitates-life or life-imitates-art is becoming another chicken-and-egg question. Take, for example, this case of, uh, performance art:
"A Berlin couple plan to have their first baby at an art gallery, the gallery owner said on Saturday, confirming a newspaper report.
"’It’s a gift to humanity, a once in a lifetime thing,’ Bild newspaper quoted Winfried Witt, partner of mother-to-be Ramune Gele, as saying.
[…]
"About 30 people are expected to attend the birth, scheduled for April 24. They would be told to come to the gallery as soon as the 27-year-old Gele’s contractions became regular, Witt was quoted as saying."
Although the "performance" will be taking place in an art gallery, apparently this will not be an open exhibit:
"[Gallery manager Johann] Novak said the gallery, which usually shows installations and video art, would be closed during the birth. ‘The private aspect will be maintained,’ he said."
Uh huh. That’s why all the details are being released to the media. So we can maintain privacy. At least the article reports that not everyone is finding the proposed masterpiece fitting for a gallery exhibition:
"Another gallery owner in the street said: ‘I find it mad.’"
Well I suppose as birth becomes less and less prevalent and more of an oddity to so many people, this kind of thing will grow in popularity. There are larger and larger groups today that categorize humanity into two groups, “breeders” and everyone else. I can already see it, “Ewww, look at those breeders giving birth! How interesting! Can you believe that most human beings experienced this personally at some point in there life 40 years ago? GET OUT! NO WAY!”
How trashy.
I would want to be where the pain relief is (not to mention the medical assistance, should mother or baby require it)…this must be a first child…
God Bless.
I admit that it’s strange and unusual, but if it’s their gallery, or owned by a close friend, I don’t see what the big deal is. Okay, so they are inviting 30 friends/aquaintances. That’s unusual, too. I bet the mom will end up holing herself up in the bathroom or in a private office, as most women desire intimacy and privacy when delivering. However, I disagree that this is trashy, or wrong in any way. It’s just strange. There is not a morally superior way or place to give birth. I just see this as an unusual twist on a homebirth.
The one thing I’m curious about is how they know that the birth is scheduled for April 24. Surely this is not going to be a medical induction?
Hey, Michelle-
You scooped me! I wrote a post on this already, but Jimmy had not yet published it.
My only thoughts on the whole thing: “I am not surprised” and “the poor kid”. I used to get disgusted with these so-called performance “artists”, now I am just bored.
“I find it mad” = “Why didn’t I think of that?”