FULL BODY TONSURE: closing ceremony for a one-year performance
performance photos by NATALIA NICHOLSON
FULL BODY TONSURE: closing ceremony for a one-year performance marks the end of a project started on NOVEMBER 26, 2012 catalyzed by the artist’s desire to address his overall lack of discipline and humility. inspired by tonsure rituals, especially those of catholic, hindu, and buddhist cultures, he initiated the one-year piece by shaving his body head-to-toe and signing a manifesto defining rules to live by for the months thereafter. one of the rules forbade the cutting of his hair, and on TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2013, he will complete the first cycle by shaving off what has grown. the audience is invited to join the ceremony and witness the transformation of the artist, his body, and the work.
ARJUNA CAPULONG (b. 1992, FREMONT, CALIFORNIA) is a performance artist residing in CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. he is currently a third-year undergraduate student at the school of the ART INSTITUTE of CHICAGO (SAIC) working toward a BFA. CAPULONG is a recipient of the outstanding new artist award 2012 and the distinguished scholars merit scholarship from SAIC. he has performed throughout the united states in spaces including the ART INSTITUTE of CHICAGO, DEFIBRILLATOR gallery, C24 gallery (NY), and CLOWES MEMORIAL HALL (IN). he also participated in the IN>TIME ‘13 performance festival in chicago. capulong’s performance work exists across live, photo, and video formats and expresses the embracement of what he calls his “shadow” – the summation of his inadequacies, blemishes, and morally questionable moments.
documentation of FIRST TONSURE performance by TYLER JAMES LUMM
daily nudes documentation by ARJUNA CAPULONG
