Matthew Silver, New York Performance, 2015

Matthew Silver is a New York based artist who performs madness on the streets and in public squares. He describes himself as a ‘village idiot’ and through his eccentric performance attempts to “parody excessive seriousness by playing with taboos, rules, and social norms.” In these two videos we can see both the performer and the philosopher who shares his wacky insights and profound thoughts while evoking smiles and laughter. These public performances effectively loosen people’s armour, opening a healthy space for imagination and creativity. The 2016 film ‘Being Vulnerable’ features the performer out of character, explaining the need to be vulnerable and to learn to be comfortable with vulnerability.