PERFORMANCES & INSTALLATIONS

Mike’s history with experimental art, interactive art, performance art and large-scale art installations had a lot to do with control. Who has it? Who doesn’t? How do you control yourself? Do other people control you? What happens when you’re out of control? These questions drove Mike’s obsessions with the chance aesthetics of abstract expressionism. Even his 1998 multi-sensory installation, “Grandpa’s Forest” grew from the same fascination. Mike filled a 450 sq.ft. room with a variety of tactile objects, and also made the room completely blind, taping up all cracks of light, whereby removing the sense of sight - and sense of control that goes along with it. Pushing buttons, controlling bodies and abstract expression all wrestle with the joysticks of control. Take the wheel? Or sit back and watch? Try bringing order to the court? Or enjoy the chaos?