Performance of Liliya Lifanova's ANATOMY IS DESTINY

The World Chess Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the upcoming presentation of Liliya Lifánova’s performance art piece Anatomy is Destiny, which will mark the closing of the World Chess Hall of Fame’s inaugural exhibitions OUT OF THE BOX: Artists Play Chess and Chess Masterpieces: Highlights from the Dr. George and Vivian Dean Collection. Both exhibitions close on February 12.

The largest and most imposing piece in the exhibition OUT OF THE BOX: Artists Play Chess, Lifánova’s monumental installation Anatomy is Destiny: The Wardrobe, Game in Waiting (2009) consists of 32 life-sized garments suspended from the ceiling above a 16-by-16-foot chessboard. 

The title of the work, which refers to the controversial theory that the primary determinant of personality is gender, is a quotation from Sigmund Freud’s essay on the Oedipus complex. The same garments currently in the installation will be fitted to dancers and worn in the performance, which will take place on February 15 at the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. In the performance, the 32 dancers will reenact an imaginary chess match between the artist and chess master Marcel Duchamp and his female alter ego Rrose Sélavy.

The evening begins at 6 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. Artist Liliya Lifánova and OUT OF THE BOX: Artists Play Chess curator and assistant professor of art history at Saint Louis University Bradley Bailey will present a brief talk at 7 p.m. to begin the program, with the performance immediately following. This is a collaborative effort with the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis. Saint Louis University's Department of Fine and Performing Arts is an associate sponsor.

Tickets are available at the following rates:

General Admission - $20.00

World Chess Hall of Fame Members - $10.00

Students - $5.00

Please contact ChiChi LLC to reserve tickets: (314) 678-0500