The Invasion of Puerto Rico as Performance Art

The IPR is a sarcastic-symbolic-simulation of the conceptual cultural conquest of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Launching miniature scale models and figurines in mock mission to captivate and capture the island of Borinquen with performance art and KMAN culture. IPR is actually a reenactment based on an art fiction story of KMAN; the avatar of Krishna in his manifestation as the Hindu God of art and war and the patron saint of the fallen soldier and all victims of war. KMAN also represents the native American multicolored Kachinaman who is a benevolent spirit who every season flies in on a cloud to bring life, happiness, love and small carved sacred dolls as gifts to the Hopi tribe. KMAN also incorporates elements of the Puerto Rican artisanal carved “Santos” tradition.
Puerto Rico has probably contributed the largest number of soldiers to war, per capita, than any other state or country in recent modern warfare.
The IPR is not intended as the promotion or glorification of war, rather; on the contrary, it is a humorous ironic ridicule and histrionics of an outdated, murderous, and barbaric institution.

The Plan:

Departing on k-day from Kman city (an actual active functioning ‘micro-world’ scale model city layout in Kendall, Florida) model aircrafts loaded with brightly colored little wooden KMAN action figures are airlifted from Kendall-Tamiami Airport and transported to Isla Grande Airport. Deplane, deploy, display and march to surround the CIRCA battlegrounds at the Puerto Rico Convention Center to establish headquarters and base of operations. Also squadrons from secret base in Central Park and at the Museo del Barrio in New York fly in to airdrop paper KMAN paratroopers over the fields at El Morro in front of La Escuela de Artes Plasticas. Simultaneously, navy model ships, aircraft carrier and submarines are maneuvered and anchored offshore the San Juan ‘theater of war’ to launch fireworks display and initiate bombardment of harmless multicolored dyed powder blasts. Contingents of masquerading marines will cruise ship in and dock and disembark at the piers by La Puntilla to lead procession of KMAN up through the cobble streets to the main secret MSA base camp. Car top and scooter mounted model jets are driven towards strategic locations around El Viejo San Juan intent on art performance, parade, paranda and pachanga.

The objective:

-Actualize ongoing imaginary conceptual art idea and fictional story into a real representational performance art and documented experimental socio-cultural art study.

-Accomplish farce crusade and friendly “assault”(asalto navideño) attempting to “invade” in order to “impose” celebration and KMAN festival in Old San Juan.

-Establish regular communication and virtual air link between New York, Miami and Puerto Rico.

-Participate in Scope Miami 07 in December for pretend practice art war maneuvers.

-Propose to fly and land for display model jet aircraft involved in the IPR campaign to the exhibition “Love and War” at Exit Art Gallery, 475 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10018 from December 1 to January 26, 2008. The jet will have compartment where miniature scale crew figurines and air art cargo will be lodged and unloaded in New York as documentation of the “Invasion of Puerto Rico as Performance” to be launched in 2007.

ARTISLAND

ArtIsland---The Island of Art, La Isla del Arte---dream of tropical Caribbean Islands where art is all and all is art and all the people are artist. Free art expression and positive creative drive rule the Islands and Government is truly by the people in a tribal style where everybody has a say and a voice in the affairs of state.

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