REINDEER WERK RESTRAINED ACTION 24.09–26.09.1975

Galerie S:t Petri in Lund will, over the course of three days — September 24, 25, and 26 — be visited by the English artists’ group Reindeer Werk, who will give a series of performances in the gallery.

It is the first time the group performs in Sweden. Previously, they have presented their actions in Ireland, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. In their home country, the group has performed at Speaker’s Corner, in theatres, libraries, dance studios, universities, and various galleries.

The restrained action characterizes most of the group’s performances. The impossibility of carrying out a simple activity without hindrance becomes evident in these performances. The obstructing factor may be either the performer themself — for instance, wrapped in ropes attempting to perform everyday tasks — or one or several other people.

Tom Puckey, one of the members of Reindeer Werk, describes some of the situations one can find oneself in as follows:

“With my eyes bound, I try to cut up meat and arrange the pieces in a straight line. I run around in a costume covered with sacks filled with objects, and I am in a hurry. I mark my own movements by blowing a whistle. I lie down in the street, crawl, drag myself forward. I measure the progress of a snail and follow its pace.”

Tom Puckey means, in other words, that it is by no means as easy as one might think — to move, to speak, to eat, to drink, and so on.

Through their actions, the members of Reindeer Werk aim to make us aware of the many mental and practical circumstances that act as brakes on our capacity for action, even in the simplest everyday situations.

Reindeer Werk performs at Galerie S:t Petri on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 3 to 8 p.m.