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Description:
A performance art piece.
The cake is made of 3 layers of agar-agar and artist’s blood (70ml), measuring 40” x 40” x 40” inches and cut to form a perfectly clear cuboid. The blood cake is then placed on a white undecorated cake stand, and set on a black plinth. The cake should be lit from a spotlight above, to give it a sublime, rosy glow. There should be no excess of elements or decoration, with only a white tea candle in wait.
The celebrant must be dressed in the same fixed uniformed colour palette of black, white and red. The attire should be as close as possible to a child’s party dress and should be dark red to match the blood cake. A chopper-knife will be placed at the side of the cake in wait for the performance, and it must be black to follow the palette.
At 6pm, the candle is lit. An announcer must then inform the guests of the cake contents – that it contains human blood and agar. The celebrant will then begin to sing ‘happy birthday’ song and clap along, take ‘birthday party’ photos, blow out the candle and cut the cake. The cake will then be served to all the guests in the gallery, and then the celebrant proceed to eat the cake as well.
The overall mood of the performance should be solemn, but joyous. It should feel celebratory and inclusive, as though every one has been part of a special occasion. After the cake has been eaten, the celebrant should thank each person for coming and attending the birthday party.
