What is art? To some, it’s paintings or sculptures. To others, it’s music or film. It can be a lot of things to a lot of people — but does anyone think childbirth is art?
Marni Kotak, a performance artist who lives in Brooklyn, is in her last trimester and due to give birth in the next five weeks… and when she does, it will be in front of an audience at Microscope Gallery in Bushwick.
Kotak will be in the “birthing room,” furnished with her grandmother’s bed and rocking chair, until she goes into labor and “The Birth of Baby X” begins. At that point, her midwife, doula and husband will be present to share this intimate moment.. as well as anyone else who feels like watching.
“I hope that people will see that human life itself is the most profound work of art, and that therefore giving birth, the greatest expression of life, is the highest form of art,” she told the NY Post.
There is more to this installation than just the birth– according to Microscope Gallery’s website, “remnants from the final days of pregnancy and the birth will be added to the exhibition as it progresses.”
To be honest, we don’t even want to know what that means.
