This book coincides with an increase in the programming of live art elements in many galleries and museums. Traditional art history has, however, been wary of live art's interdisciplinarity and its tendency to encourage increased formal and conceptual risk taking. Time-based performances have challenged the conventions of documentation and the viewer's access to the art experience. This book questions the canon of art history by exploring participation, liveness, interactivity, digital and process-based performative practices and performance for the camera, as presented in gallery spaces. The essays present both academic research as well as case studies of curatorial projects that have pushed the boundaries of the art historical practice. The authors come from a wide range of backgrounds, ranging from curators and art producers to academics and practising artists. They ask what it means to present, curate and create interdisciplinary performative work for gallery spaces and offer cutting-edge research that explores the intricate relationship between art history, live and performing arts, and museum and gallery space.

Conspiracy Dwellings: Surveillance in Contemporary Art brings together nine illustrated essays by theorists and art practitioners about artworks made in the midst of conflict or from the position of commentary and critique in topics that span from the 70s to the present day. The authors Anthony Downey, Christine Eyene, Liam Kelly, Verena Kyselka, Robert Knifton, Maciej Ozog, Outi Remes, Paula Roush, Matthew Shaul and Pam Skelton consider the practical and theoretical status of surveillance: its impact on urban space, ethics, citizenship, civic liberties, conflict and resistance as well as strategies of counter-surveillance that propose new spectatorial positions, individual empowerment, increased interactivity and social networking.Artists discussed include John Aiken, Willie Doherty, Gavin Jantjes, Verena Kyselka, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Jill Magid, Gundula Schulze-Eldowy and Artur Zmijewski, representing international issues and perspectives from England, Germany, Mexico, Northern Ireland, Poland and South Africa.Today, in post 9/11 times of economic difficulties and political uncertainly, the subject of patriotism, freedom and democratic rights are once again high on the agenda, raising questions such as where do we draw the line-how far does surveillance have to go before it worries us-and at what point is the citizen regarded as a threat to the state?