Dream of Reason

Cuban performance artist Tania Bruguera recently opened the Sublime Embrace exhibition at the Art Gallery of Hamilton with a performance titled "The Dream of Reason", a reference to Goya's famed painting "The Sleep of Reason" in which a student lies over his textbooks, surrounded by bats, ominous shadows and monsters.

Her piece comments on the anxiety, dread, and sense of impending catastrophe felt by US citizens (as well as the rest of the world- thanks George) in the aftermath of Bush's post 9/11 America.

Her performance was unannounced and un-named: during the reception for the Sublime Embrace exhibition, police officers with bomb-detecting dogs roamed the gallery amongst art-loving attendees. With no explanation from the curator or artists present, the public was left to figure out/worry/wonder. A great piece.