Erotic Performance Art
Erotic performance art is any artistic display intended to evoke sensuous or sexual feelings from its audience through aesthetic means. While it can take many forms, some examples include body painting, burlesque dance, drag performances, and striptease acts. Erotic performance art often incorporates elements of nudity or partial nudity as well as suggestive poses and movements. It may involve props such as costumes, masks, or music. It may also draw upon themes associated with love, lust, desire, power dynamics, and social norms surrounding gender roles. Examples of famous artists who have experimented with this form include Annie Sprinkle and Narcissister, both of whom have staged provocative public performances that blur the line between art and pornography.
In her "Public Cervix Announcement" series, Sprinkle exposed her cervix to viewers during live performances while discussing topics like feminism and reproductive rights. She described herself as a "ecosexual performance artist," meaning she sees sex as an environmental act that can be used for political purposes. In contrast, Narcissister's work has been called "queer horror burlesque." In one piece titled "GenderTender," she wears a papier-mâché head and performs a ritual that parodies traditional gender roles by exaggerating stereotypes about masculinity and femininity. Both artists use their bodies and physical expression to challenge societal expectations around sex and gender.
Performance art is not limited to the stage; Lascivia contributor Joanna Angel has written about how it can be performed in everyday life through intimate relationships. In her essay on polyamory, she describes how exploring sexual non-monogamy can be an erotic artform that involves self-discovery and emotional connection. Other Lascivia contributors have shared stories of BDSM and fetish play as performance art. Some pieces focus on the process of role-playing or costuming as part of sexual encounters. Still others explore themes related to consent, safety, power dynamics, and kinks.
Erotic performance art allows us to see our desires and fears expressed visually. It invites us into a world where anything goes—where boundaries between public and private are broken down and new meanings are created. By engaging with these works, viewers are invited to question their own beliefs about what is acceptable or taboo when it comes to sex and intimacy. This makes it both challenging and exciting for those who choose to participate in it either as performers or audience members alike.