Werknummer/Work ID: 351

Just Drink Tea
(2011-2022)

Nilo, Dawn

Nilo, Dawn (Camera)
Nilo, Johannes Nilo (Camera)
Johannes Nilo (Camera)
unknown (Camera)

The Just Drink Tea project consists of 30 performances between 2011 and 2022 - in living rooms, kitchens, ateliers, art and public spaces, schools, a research library and a museum. Just Drink Tea is performed in celebration of the sensual human experience. Elevating the word 'just' to imply the complexity of the Something Greater that can be found in the simplicity of being, the ceremony creates an intimate reflective environment. It's about having a conscious moment (or two)  with guests. Each performance is different and developed for a specific time, place and group of people. Sometimes I work with other artist, actually, every guest becomes a collaborating artist. Together we have experimented, given performances, exhibited light, recited poetry, played games, solved riddles, sat in silence, philosophized, made music, told stories, worn masks, removed masks, questioned destiny.. and all this while trying to brew a good flask of tea.  In 2020 I was asked by the Kunstdredit Basel-Stadt to submit a sales proposal for acquisition into their collection. One of the works proposed was a “Just Drink Tea” performance and script written as a “Homage to Basel: Hauptstadt der Alchemie”. The final proposal, which includes a “Just Drink Tea” script, documents the process. The work proved to be too controversial and the city did not purchase it. (The process of presenting, discussing and negotiating the sale was also conducted and offered as a conceptual performance in and of it self. See “Performing Negotiations.)
Additional
In addition to the script found in the acquisitions proposal (_01), the images uploaded offer a sample of photo documentation over the years, including four images from a portrait series (_14, 15, 16, and 17). All images are in digital form, except for the drawing in the proposal, which is pencil on A4 typing paper.
Alternative
PDF, photo documentation and portraits

Ort: living rooms, kitchens, ateliers (Atelier Nilo), art and public spaces (Kitchenaufderhoehe, Reinhören Basel, The), schools (Gewerbe Schule Basel, FHNW), a research library (Haus Duldeck, Goetheanum) and a museum (Kópavogur Art Museum, Iceland, “Lot’s of Tiny People”, Curated by Jasper Bock, Sigrun Gunnarsdóttir, Gudrun Helgadóttir, and Jón B.K Ransu)
Dokumentationstyp: Dokumentation einer Performance/Aktion / Documentation of a performance/action

Medium

PDF
Dauer: project over 11 years