In the year she celebrates her 70th birthday, Vlasta Delimar, one of the pioneers of performance art in the region, is preparing a series of events taking place in the cities that have shaped her artistic career.
"I am 70 years old. I strive to age well – to age positively and healthily, which involves a low risk of illness, physical functionality, active participation in social life, independence, and the ability to look after myself. Ageing is not a process of decline; rather, it means growth; it means expanding one’s own potential as we mature. However, ageing well depends on me, which is why I take responsibility for my own ageing. Apart from having my teeth treated, improving my eyesight with a good pair of glasses and having hip replacements fitted on both sides, I also ensure that my sex life continues to thrive. Modern gerontology endeavours in many ways to raise awareness of society’s rejection of both ageing and older people, and offers us a range of opportunities to improve our quality of life. Sexual activity is not strictly necessary in old age, but it is beneficial as it improves general physical and mental health.
I begin the performance wearing a white tulle dress. White is also the colour of death, towards which I am moving slowly and with dignity. On the table lie chocolate penises, which I unhurriedly cut up, grate and distribute to the audience. The chocolate penises lend the performance a humorous touch, creating a cheerful and relaxed atmosphere. Once the chocolate penises have been eaten, I put on an incontinence nappy. The nappy is intended to remind us of the potential discomforts of old age. It is ugly and arouses revulsion. That is why I invite the audience to have their photograph taken with me, so that we can overcome this unease together."
- Vlasta Delimar
Vlasta Delimar was born in Zagreb in 1956. As one of Croatia’s most distinguished performance artists, she has been developing her artistic practice since the late 1970s. In 1986, she received the Seven SKOJ Secretaries’ Award. Right from the start, she has used her own body as a medium and a space for public expression. Through themes such as nudity, sexuality, relationships, motherhood, ageing and physical changes, she brings autobiographical experiences into the public sphere, raising questions about social expectations, intimacy, identity and individual freedom. Between 2005 and 2015, she directed the arts organisation ‘Moja zemlja Štaglinec’ [My Land, Štaglinec] and the International Performance Festival in Štaglinec near Koprivnica. She is a member of the Croatian Association of Fine Artists (HDLU). Vlasta Delimar consistently stresses her detachment from ideological, religious and political affiliations and advocates for human rights, individual freedom, respect for diversity and environmental awareness.
