Museum Berggruen and Neue Nationalgalerie recently presented a performance piece entitled Sebastian by Canadian artist Miles Greenberg. Co-curated by Klaus Biesenbach and Lisa Botti, the durational performance explored the iconography of Saint Sebastian and Venice’s Blackamoor motifs. Sebastian was presented at Palazzo Malipiero as part of the opening of the 60th Venice Biennale.
In his performance, Sebastian, Miles Greenberg explores the complexities of the European canon and the representation of mythological figures throughout art history. Inspired by the depiction of Saint Sebastian, Greenberg explores the ongoing struggle of performance artists, who are often marginalised in art history. He also reflects on the depiction of black figures in classical Italian art and the dual significance of Saint Sebastian as a symbol for both religious and queer iconography.
