Making a Pause in Street Life: Not Moving as an Art Practice

In this chapter, we analyze how artistic actions can change the rhythm and pace of our movement in the city, literally and metaphorically. Both a permanent art object and an ephemeral action require stopping, interacting, reflecting, contemplating, and interpreting their meanings. This is particularly true for the human body standing still, forcing us to pay attention not only to the space around us but also to the entire social and political context. Using examples of selected artists’ actions in public spaces, we demonstrate how standing still constitutes a performative action or a tool for creating art.