US Actor Shia LaBeouf Occupies Oxford Lift In Latest Art Performance

The American actor and sometime visual artist Shia LaBeouf has been occupying a lift in Oxford as part of an art performance piece. The work has been described as a 24-hour stint in the lift. Speaking about the project to fans, he said: “It’s about getting to know people, connecting to people. “Men who get lost, like explorers, end goal is they hope they find a new world, a new land. “We’re hoping that we find a more sincere affect.”

The artist is expected to speak at the Oxford Union this evening although It is unclear whether this will be about his lift performance or to talk generally about his current practise. His UK art colleagues Nastja Rönkkö and Luke Turner are also expected to be at the talk. The three will continue occupying the lift in Gloucester Green, until 09:00 on Saturday.

Last December Mr LaBeouf 29 launched an artwork in Liverpool.  “#TOUCHMYSOUL” which examined the culture and nature of fame and the gap between a celebrity’s public persona and real life. The Hollywood actor created a dedicated call centre at Fact gallery, where he and his two collaborators are taking calls live. Instead of the usual conversation the viewer is eavesdropping on the 29 year old Hollywood bad boy’s answer, as you only hear one side of the conversation.

For the 24 hours either side of their talk, the trio will be occupying the elevator at EC English Oxford in Gloucester Green (OX1 2BT), from 9am on 19th February until 9am on 20th February. A live audio and video feed of the elevator will be broadcast inside the debating chamber of the Oxford Union for the duration, as well as online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KDW4… acting as an extended 24 hour talk. Visitors will be able to join LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner inside the elevator during this time, and are invited to address the artists, the debating chamber, and the internet, so that their collective voices may form an extended, expansive and egalitarian Oxford Union address.

The performance and access to the Union debating chamber will be free and open to the public for the full 24 hours. Art collective LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner comprises Shia LaBeouf (b. Los Angeles, USA), Nastja Säde Rönkkö (b. Helsinki, Finland), and Luke Turner (b. Manchester, UK). Over the past two years, their practice has explored connection, collaboration and creation across the networks.

Past projects and performances include #STARTCREATING and #IAMSORRY (both LA, 2014), #METAMARATHON (Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, 2014), #FOLLOWMYHEART (SxSW, Austin, 2015), #INTRODUCTIONS (with St Martins BA Fine Art, London, 2015), #ALLMYMOVIES (New York, 2015), and most recently #TOUCHMYSOUL (FACT, Liverpool, 2015).

This latest event, called #ELEVATE, is being streamed on YouTube. Watch Here 

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