CHRIS BURDEN Relic from “Dreamy Nights” 1974 Corked bottle, spiritus Case: 10 x 8 1/4 x 8 1/4 inches 25.4 x 21 x 21 cm Dreamy Nights Poolerie Gallery, Graz, Austria Art as Living Ritual: October 15, 1974 The gallery was dark. I covered my body with Vaseline and walked into a small recess in the wall containing a sink filled with Spiritus (alcohol). I lit the Spiritus and lay underneath the sink with my back to the audience. I blew on a police whistle while writhing violently on the floor. After about a minute, an assistant threw water into the sink splashing the burning Spiritus onto my body. Water was thrown into the sink until the flames were extinguished.