Santiago Sierra Launched Global Performance Art Project
A new durational work streams the names of Palestinians killed since 1948 in an international collaboration.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Performance Art
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Artist Santiago Sierra has launched a continuous, 24-hour performance piece featuring Arabic speakers reading the names of Palestinians killed since May 14, 1948. The project is being livestreamed globally through a network of partner cultural institutions.
Why it matters
The performance intends to draw attention to the persistent nature of Palestinian deaths over several decades. By including names identified as majhul, the project highlights the scale of unrecorded loss in the conflict.
The performance runs 24 hours a day and features names compiled from historical archives and various research organizations. It coincides with a separate exhibition of the artist's work at the Brutus Art Space in Rotterdam.
The players
Santiago Sierra
He is a contemporary artist known for creating performance and conceptual pieces that often explore social and political themes.
A/POLITICAL
This London-based arts organization coordinates projects that engage with political, social, and aesthetic issues.
The details
Organized by the London-based group A/POLITICAL in partnership with an anonymous research institution in Palestine, the work is hosted at the A/POLITICAL headquarters in Kennington. In-person viewing is available daily from 10am to 6pm while the livestream continues indefinitely.
Timeline
The performance piece officially began on 22 September 2026 at 6pm UK time.
The list of names covers fatalities starting from 14 May 1948.
The concurrent Death & Money exhibition in Rotterdam concludes on 20 December 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This project reflects a growing trend of international cultural institutions utilizing durational performance art to facilitate global discourse on geopolitical conflicts. By leveraging digital streaming, these organizations move beyond traditional gallery spaces to reach a worldwide audience.
Viewers globally can access the performance through the livestream hosted by a network of international cultural institutions. Those located near London may visit the A/POLITICAL headquarters in Kennington for in-person viewing during daily operating hours.
The takeaway
The project uses the weight of individual identity to illustrate long-term conflict trends. It serves as a reminder of how contemporary art is increasingly used to document historical grievances through sustained, participatory public performance.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolving nature of global Performance Art.
Live Poll
Is artistic performance an effective method to address complex international conflicts?
