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"How to French Kiss" is a re-enactment of my experience of practicing how to make out with my best friend in the 5th grade while my friend and I covered our mouths with plastic baggies so as not to be "really making out." The piece is one of my "Found Performances," or re-enactments of my real life experiences. In these works, I utilize the embodied performative event to express my real emotional experience in as authentic a way as possible for myself and the audience, attempting to somehow transcend pre-determined, primarily production-driven, social roles.
It is extremely difficult, some would argue impossible, to communicate an authentic personal voice in today's contemporary world where the endless simulacra of experience seems to engender a waning of all affect and real meaning. Faced with this contemporary issue, I am most concerned with the question of how one can have and convey a real experience. And furthermore, how do we know and hold onto what is real when our lives are constantly mediated, produced, or numbed by the power of the spectacle?"
Artist Biography
Marni Kotak is a multimedia performance artist who lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. In her recent body of work, Found Performances, Kotak utilizes multimedia in live re-enactments of scenes from her life. The goal in these works is for Kotak to relive the emotional experiences in as real a way as possible, thereby achieving a transformative catharsis for herself and audience members who have likely gone through similar or related experiences.
Recent Found Performances include How to French Kiss III at the Pool Art Fair in New York (2009), How to French Kiss II at NY Studio Gallery (2008) and Slumber Party, Nightmare and How to French Kiss (2008), exhibited as part of Maximum Perception at English Kills Gallery. Other Found Performances include Third Grade, exhibited as part of the censored Plan B, 2006 Brooklyn College MFA Thesis exhibit, and Sandbox, Radiator, and Big Hair exhibited at Artists Space in conjunction with Performa ’05, the first biennial of live visual art performance. Other works include Dinners for You (2008), Pleasure War! (2005) and a series of business presentations for her web-based project Livesystems.net (1999-2004).
Kotak’s work has been featured in the Performing Arts Journal, the New York Times, the Village Voice, NY Arts, New York Press, Art New England, The Brooklyn Rail and more. She has exhibited her work at various venues in the city including Artists Space, NY Studio Gallery, Cave Gallery, Holland Tunnel, English Kills and others. She received her BA from Bard College; and in 2006, she was one of 18 graduating artists from Brooklyn College’s MFA program whose thesis exhibition was shut down and censored by city officials. She now lives and has her studio in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
Marni Kotak
Marni Kotak
Brooklyn, NY
Education
MFA, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY Concentration in Sculpture with studies in Performance and Interactive Media Arts Program (PIMA)
BA, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Selected Performances and Exhibitions
2009 How to French Kiss III in Article Projects exhibit at Pool Art Fair, NYC, curated by David Gibson
The Black Madonna, curated by Lisa Paul Streitfeld and HP Garcia, HP Garcia Gallery, New York, NY
Dinners for USA, Artists Studio, Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY (Upcoming: June 7, 2009)
How to French Kiss IV, Grace Exhibition Space, Brooklyn, NY (Upcoming: June 19. 2009)
BOS09 Benefit, Lumenhouse Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
My Grandfathers Funeral, English Kills Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (Upcoming: August 2009)
Behind the Shed with Shad, 10th Annual Open Art International Performance Art Festival, Beijing,
China, curated by Jill McDermid (Upcoming: September 2009)
My First Time, English Kills Gallery, Brooklyn, NY (Upcoming: November 2009)
2008 How To French Kiss II in MISC Video & Performance, NY Studio Gallery, New York, NY
Slumber Party, Nightmare and How to French Kiss in Maximum Perception: Contemporary Brooklyn
Performance, curated by Chris Harding and Peter Dobill, English Kills Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Dinners for You, MyHouse Art Space, Brooklyn, NY
Bushwick Open Studios Small Works Benefit, Spread Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
The Mighty Tananka Show, Brooklyn Fireproof Gallery & Nutroaster Studios, Brooklyn, NY
BOS08 Benefit Exhibition, Lumenhouse Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2007 Life Re-dos, The Blackbox Theater, Brooklyn, NY
Marni Kotak: Incidental Performances, MyHouse Art Space, Brooklyn, NY
2006 Third Grade in Plan B Prevails, 70 Washington Street, Brooklyn, NY
Third Grade in Plan B, Brooklyn War Memorial, Brooklyn, NY (Exhibition censored and shut down by NYC Parks Dept.)
Marni Kotak: Found Performances in "Significant Other: Collaboration and Collusion, organized by David Gibson, at the Makor Steinhardt Center of the 92nd Street Y, New York, NY
Pleasure War! Part 2: Core Desire in "Icons of the 21st Century, curated by Lisa Paul Streitfeld, The Lab Gallery, Roger Smith Hotel, New York, NY
2005 "Found Performances, in Empty Space with Exciting Events at Artists Space, curated by Christian
Rattemeyer, in partnership with PERFORMA05, New York, NY
Marni Kotak: Pleasure War!, Solo Exhibition, Naked Duck Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
“Pleasure War!: Operation Enlistment, U.S. Army Recruitment Station, in conjunction with Naked Duck Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Pleasure War!, Recruitment Drive, Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in conjunction with Naked Duck Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Karaoke Smashup, Galapagos Art Space and Matchless Art Space, Brooklyn, NY
“Snap to Grid. Los Angeles Center for Digital Art, Los Angeles, CA
One Night Stand: The Sex Show, curated by Dominick Lombardi, Viscaya Gallery, New York, NY
2004 Market Value, curated by David Gibson, Cuchifritos Gallery, The Essex Marketplace, New York, NY
“Farm Stand, McCarren Park Greenmarket, Brooklyn, NY
“Farm Stand, Graham Avenue Farmers Market, Brooklyn, NY
Secret Security Clearance, Boylan Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Winter Fruit, Three Bow Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2001- Incidental Performances:
2003 Hostile Take Over, Pleasure Center, Brooklyn, NY
I am not performing my image, Peekskill, NY
Corporate Buyout, Pleasure Center, Brooklyn, NY
Rent-Free, Pleasure Center, Brooklyn, NY
Merger, Soka Gokkai Buddhist Center, New York, NY
Lost in Your Gaze, Pleasure Center, Brooklyn, NY
Incorporation, Pleasure Center, Brooklyn, NY
Nothing Special, McCarren Park, Brooklyn, NY
Shower Me with My Love, Pleasure Center, Brooklyn, NY
2000 Write Your Message on My Body: Place Your Ad Here! Y2K Promotional Campaign, ANE OFFICE
Gallery, New York, NY
“Business Art Business 2000, ANE OFFICE Gallery, New York, NY
“Receipt for Viewing in Fluid,16 Beaver Gallery, New York, NY
“Pleasure and Profit in 2000, in conjunction with Elsewhere: Williamsburg and Soapbox Gallery,
Brooklyn, NY
VideoSoapbox, Soapbox Gallery, in conjunction with Elsewhere: Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY
1999 Parsing Outside In, CAVE Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Moving Into Outside, Holland Tunnel Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Livesystems.net, Holland Tunnel Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Selected Bibliography
Aplin, Beth. Brooklyn College MFA Program Presents Exhibit of Thesis Artwork, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 6,
2006
Aplin, Beth. Busted at War Memorial: Sexual Content Closes MFA Students Art Show, Brooklyn Daily Eagle,
May 9, 2006
Aplin, Beth. Controversy Grows Over Closed MFA Exhibit, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 10, 2006
Aplin, Beth. Fight Over Explicit Art Exhibit Heads to Court, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 17, 2006
Aplin, Beth. Artists Get Prime Dumbo Space, But Still Plan to Sue City, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 19, 2006
Aplin, Beth. Brooklyn College Students Artwork Carelessly Handled, Seriously Damaged, Brooklyn Daily Eagle,
May 22, 2006
Aplin, Beth. Students Art Show, Booted from Park, Finally Set To Open in DUMBO, Students, College, Developer
All Agree, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, May 29, 2006
Arnsdorf, Issac. Brooklyn College Art Students Receive Settlement from City, Student Press Law Center, June 13,
2007
Brafman, Marcy. Marni Kotaks Found Performances, Article Magazine, December 12, 2005,
http://www.articleprojects.blogspot.com
Buiso, Gary. Too Hot to Handle: X-Rated Art Show Forced to Find New Space, Brooklyn Graphic, May 11, 2006
Buiso, Gary. Racy Art Exhibit Finds New Space, Brooklyn Heights Courier, May 12, 2006
Buiso, Gary. City Damaged Artwork After Show Was Shuttered, Students Charge, Brooklyn Heights Courier, May
19, 2006
Buiso, Gary. Plan B Prevails With New Opening, Kings Courier, May 25, 2006
Buiso, Gary. Plan B Artists Get Apology, Park Slope Courier, June 11, 2007
Caniglia, Julia. Moving Into Outside: Williamsburg Artists on the Pulse of Their Community, MSN Sidewalk, July
1999
Cohen, Stephanie. XXX Art Victory, NY Post, June 7, 2007
Confessore, Nicholas. In Brooklyn, Art Students Rally Against Show Closing, NY Times, Metro Section, May 7,
2006
Curtis, Lisa J. Truth or Dare, GO Brooklyn: Brooklyns Hottest Events, The Brooklyn Paper, August 16, 2008: Vol.
31, No. 32.
Daily News. Children Behaving Badly(Editorial), June 8, 2007
Dobnik, Verena. Sexy New York City Art Exhibit Shut Down By City Officials, Associated Press, May 5, 2006
Fraser, Ian. Satans Cheerleaders and Live Body Avertising, Daily Mail and Guardian, June 28, 2001
Goldstein, Joseph. Apology by City on Art: It Settles Case Over a Protest at Memorial Site, NY Sun, June 7, 2007
Greenpoint Gazette. Kotak and Yampolsky: Local Artists in Chelsea Show, November 1998
Hazell, Dino. Brooklyn Artworks Were Damaged When Exhibit Closed, Students Say, Associated Press, May 14,
2006
Holt, Dennis. On the Riverfront, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 1998
Jones, David. Brooklyn College Art Exhibit Shut Over Content, Crains New York Business, May 5, 2006
Jones, David. Brooklyn College Art Exhibit Set to Reopen, Crains New York Business, May 22, 2006
Kalm, James. Brooklyn Dispatches: Performance Anxiety, The Brooklyn Rail, October 2008
Kennedy, Randy. Park Officials Shut College Show, NY Times, Metro Section, May 6, 2006
Kennedy, Randy and Janon Fisher. Brooklyn Art Exhibition Comes Down Amid Protest, NY Times, Metro Section,
May 9, 2006
Kennedy, Randy. Brooklyn College Faculty Condemns Art Ouster, NY Times, Arts Briefly, May 11, 2006
Kennedy, Randy. Students Relocate a Shuttered Art Show, NY Times, Arts & Leisure, May 12, 2006
Kennedy, Randy. Art Students File Suit, NY Times, Arts Briefly, June 16, 2006
de Kretser, Leela. City Cuts Off Phallic Brookklyn Art, NY Post, May 6, 2006
Laster, Paul. Across the River, Artnet.com, February 2000, www.artnet.com/Magazine/people/laster/laster2000-
02-01_29.asp
Laster, Paul. Beautiful in Brooklyn, Artnet.com, October 2000, www.artnet.com/magazine/people/laster/laster10-
12-30.asp
Lee, Felicia. City Settles Art Dispute, NY Times, Arts Briefly, June 6, 2007
LeSure, Elizabeth. Suit Planned Over Shuttered NYC Art Show, Associated Press, May 9, 2006
Levin, Kim. Moving into Outside, Voice Choices, Village Voice, July 1999
Mamatas, Nick. C is for Censored: Talking with Marni Kotak, Brooklyn College Student and Censored Artist,
Village Voice, May 17, 2006
McFerron, Whitney. Art Students File Lawsuit Over Closed Show, Student Press Law Center, June 23, 2006
Orden, Erica. Shuttering of Art Exhibit by Parks Dept. Sparks Protest at Cadman Plaza, NY Sun, May 8, 2006
Ponzio, Anthony. Brooklyn Art Students File Suit Over Controversial Exhibit in War Memorial, Brooklyn Daily
Eagle, June 22, 2006
Pulitzer, Courtney. Art For Business Sake, Courtney Pulitzer's Cyberscene, January, 2000
Rabinowitz, Jonathan. Desiring Community: Fulfillment in the New Economy, Performing Arts Journal, MIT Press,
September 2002
Ramirez, Anthony. Art Show is Reopening in Brooklyn, NY Times, May 24, 2006
Riverdale Press. Return of the Censors (Editorial), May 11, 2006
Sapa (AP). Hungry Rat Locked in Closed Art Exhibit, Sunday Tribune (South Africa), May 6, 2006
Scaccia, Annamarya. Ruined Canvas: Brooklyn College Ruins Artwork from Controversial Plan B Thesis Exhibit
During Removal of Materials, The Kingsman, May 15, 2006
Streitfeld, Lisa Paul. Performa05: Innovations on the Periphery, NY Arts Magazine, March/April, 2006
Streitfeld, Lisa Paul. Defining Eroticism in Techno-Porn Culture, Art New England, October/November, 2005
Streitfeld, Lisa Paul. Eros in New Art, NY Press, July 20-26, 2005
Tobol, Sarah. Lawsuit Over Controversial Brooklyn Art Exhibit Settled, Brooklyn Eagle, June 11, 2007
Selected Awards
2006 Cerf Award, Brooklyn College MFA Program
1999 New York State Council on the Arts/ Brooklyn Arts Council grant for Moving Into Outside, Holland Tunnel
Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Marni Kotak http://www.marnikotak.com
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