Photography has been used to capture performances since its invention – from the stars of the Victorian stage to the art happenings of the 1960s, right up to today’s trend for selfies.Â
This exhibition explores the relationship between the two forms, looking at how performance artists use photography and how photography is in itself a performance.
![Masahisa Fukase's photograph, From Window 1974 showing a young woman carrying a suitcase photographed from above](https://media.tate.org.uk/aztate-prd-ew-dg-wgtail-st1-ctr-data/images/mu_masahisafukasefromwindow_lNAfrca.width-340.jpg)
Masahisa Fukase, From Window 1974
© Masahisa Fukase Archives. Courtesy of Michael Hoppen Gallery.
![Photograph Masahisa Fukase Bukubuku (bubbling) 1991 showing a man in a bath or swimming pool blowing bubbles](https://media.tate.org.uk/aztate-prd-ew-dg-wgtail-st1-ctr-data/images/mu_masahisafukasebukubuku_VA0WwuS.width-340.jpg)
Masahisa Fukase Bukubuku (bubbling) 1991
© Masahisa Fukase Archives. Courtesy Michael Hoppen Gallery
![Photograph by Amalia Ulman Excellences & Perfections, showing a young woman photographing herself, wearing underwear, in a bathroom mirror](https://media.tate.org.uk/aztate-prd-ew-dg-wgtail-st1-ctr-data/images/mu_amalia-ulman-excellences-_perfections_UUsNg.width-340.jpg)
Amalia Ulman Excellences & Perfections
© Courtesy Arcadia Missa and The Artist​
![Photograph showing a man appearing in the open mouth of a shark](https://media.tate.org.uk/aztate-prd-ew-dg-wgtail-st1-ctr-data/images/mu_martin-parr-autoportrait-benidorm-spain_9L6.width-340.jpg)
Martin Parr Autoportrait: Benidorm, Spain 1997
Watch curator Simon Baker talk about key works in the exhibition:
This film file is broken and is being removed. Sorry for any inconvenience this causes.
Simon Baker |Â TateShots
Performing for the Camera includes over 500 images, including vintage prints, large scale works, marketing posters and Instagrammed photos. It shows how photographs have captured performances by important artists including Yves KleinÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýYayoi Kusama, and ground-breaking collaborations between photographers, performers and dancers. It looks at how artists including Francesca Woodman, Erwin Wurm and others have used photography as a stage on which to perform, and how figures from Cindy ShermanÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýHannah WilkeÌý³Ù´ÇÌýMarcel DuchampÌý²¹²Ô»åÌýSamuel Fosso have used photography to explore identity.
Exhibition videos
Watch three interviews exploring themes within the exhibition.