Title of the compilation: Tellus # 24, FluxTellus
Title: Larry Miller, Lullaby for George Maciunase (Track 27)
Editor: Barbara Moore
Label: Tellus, The Audio Cassette Magazine, Harvestworks Inc.,
New York
Date: 1971/1990
Medium: audio cassette
The American Fluxus artist Larry Miller was well aware that his artist friend, and founder of the Fluxus movement, George Maciunas, did not like children very much. He then created the well-known sound work Lullaby for George Maciunas to provoke him and satirize his unusual character traits.
This reference to Maciunas' particular personality was not the only one the artist came across: many Fluxus artists, including Larry Miller, took Maciunas' special personal characteristics as an opportunity to use elements of irritation and provocation in their works.
Lullaby for George Maciunas appeared on the 24th issue of Tellus Audio Cassette Magazine. The work consists of a recording of a crying baby who, for unknown reasons, starts sobbing and coughing in the piece. Miller is alluding to the primal instincts and reflexes of humans to rush to the aid of crying babies. The play aims to irritate the audience over the almost three-minute duration and activate their instincts, but at the same time create a situation of helplessness. It is uncomfortable and heartbreaking to hear how the baby is not helped and continues to cry.
The play involves a typical everyday situation that parents, in particular, are well acquainted with. It is an example of the avant-garde character of Fluxus, especially since such kinds of "disturbing noises" were not called art by any other tendency. The piece is a standout example of the avant-garde, experimental and humorous individuality and absurdity of Fluxus.
The title of the piece has a strong ironic connotation. The word lullaby implies soft, musical, and harmonic sounds played to babies to relax and fall asleep. Here Miller refers to the baby's mournful sounds as a lullaby for Maciunas, which is supposed to produce the opposite reaction in him.
EBP, PS