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Learning to Talk

Linda Mary Montano

1978 00:45:00 United StatesEnglishColor4:3Video
Tags:
Feminism, Performance, Religion/Spirituality, Video History, Ritual

Description

This video is related to Seven Years of Living Art (a seven-year performance of personal endurance Montano began in December of 1984) and adopts the Zen Chakra system of seven centers as a structuring device. The adoption of the Chakra system arises from Montano’s commitment to the study of Eastern culture and religion. Assuming seven different personae corresponding to the Chakra system—French woman (sexuality), nun (security), jazz singer (courage), country and western songwriter (love), neurosurgeon (will), Russian choreographer (intuition), karate black belt (bliss)—Montano questions the concept of wisdom in the Western world. Coupling serious meditation with country and western music, Montano shows how to internalize wisdom while surviving in a culture of comical stereotypes.

About Linda Montano

Originally trained as a sculptor, Linda Montano began using video in the 1970s. Attempting to obliterate the distinction between art and life, Montano's artwork is starkly autobiographical and often concerned with personal and spiritual discipline. She spent two years in a convent and studied Yoga and Zen. In 1983, Montano and artist Tehching Hsieh were literally tied together for one year in a living performance. Her avowed interest lies in "learning how to live better through life-like artworks," with personal growth evolving out of shared experience, role adoption, and ritual. Exploring a wide range of subjects, from personal transformation and altered consciousness (Primal Scenes, 1980) to hypnosis and eating disorders (Anorexia Nervosa, 1980), Montano's work from the '70s and early '80s was critical in the development of video by, for, and about women. Her early work includes Mitchell's Death (1978), Handcuff with Tom Marioni (1975), and Characters Learning to Talk (1976-78).

Also see:
Linda M. Montano 1984: An Interview

Linda M. Montano 2016: An Interview

Linda M. Montano's Seven Years of Living Art

Linda M Montano: 14 Years of Living Art