#GloryRoad (2013)
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Excerpt from the exhibition Step Inside The Process, presented in 2014 at Rack Gallery
On September 19, 2013, Olicorno leaves the family residence in Saguenay and begins his riskiest performance so far: to travel self-sufficiently and by foot the 480 km separating his hometown from the Place des Arts in Montreal. Traveling an average of 50 km per day and carrying a hiking bag weighing about 20 kg, Olicorno puts his body to the test. For the first time, he engages himself in a public performance where failure is a very distinct possibility. Consistently posting photos and videos on his “Facebook” page, he succeeds in gaining the interest of over 80,000 users in following his live adventure. In addition to being kept informed of every significant event, the anonymous public can also influence the fate of the performance by voting daily to harm or help the artist in his progression. Among the ten options, followers could vote for the artist to go back or forward 20 km by car, to immobilize him for 24 hours, withdraw a pair of walking shoes of the two available, or allow him to spend $10 in any store on the road. The interactive experience becomes a potentially perverse and tyrannical game; the followers are intensely involved and living every moment, every step of the #GloryRoad. The rules are strict. No help outside the voting system can be accepted. The result of the vote has to be strictly respected, even if it were to result in the failure of the performance. The duration does not matter but the starting equipment only contains a 12-day supply. The importance of the message he carries with him and the unexpected extent of the visibility it receives pushes him to exceed his initial goal. Olicorno arrives prematurely at his given destination. On the 8th day of his journey, he announces that his arrival at the Place des Arts would take place on the 9th day around at 5 PM. But to the surprise of all his followers, he does not stop for the night as planned but decides to walk 26 consecutive hours and arrives on the morning of the 9th day with no one to greet him and celebrate or applaud his achievement. This unexpected end to his endeavor questions the nature of the exploit. Where does the motivation behind exceeding your own limits come from? Is ambition a synonym of selfishness? What importance should be given to the satisfaction of the public in such a context? |
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RULES OF THE PERFORMANCE:
1- The goal is to successfully complete the distance in a self-sufficient matter. Any foreign help outside the voting platform will be rejected. I may accept virtual help and support from social media. In extreme needs, I would accept the help of the religious community. 2 – I vow to be transparent and honest. I will document the entire experience in a journal. No information will be hidden or modified. 3 – The online voting system will allow one person to vote once a day. Emails will be used as a login before every vote, so we can regulate the number of votes per day. Sebastien Daniels, manager of the online voting platform, commits to never share participants’ emails and to protect their identity. These emails will never be used during or after the performance. 4 – I will sleep in my tent every night. 5 – All the water consumed during the journey is to be found without any help and purified with a Pristine system if needed. 6 – I will not have earphones with me. I will not be allowed to listen to any music. 7 – Anyone can drive me back 5 km. This is only possible once per person or car. I am committed to collaborate. 9. A journalist who wants to interview me in person, on the road can stop me for a maximum of 20 minutes |
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FOOD STOCK
24 Vector Bars 55g (230 calories) + 14 Nature Valley Granola Bars 35g (140 calories) + 10 Kelogg's strawberry bars 25g (100 calories) + 12x 110g walnuts (700 calories) + 4x 80g de beef jerky (240 calories) + 24 x 31g chocolate flavour powdered meal replacement (122 calories) + 32 x de 32g powdered Gatorade (130 calories) + 12 ''GU'' energetic gels (100 calories) + 4 x 50g energetic chews (160 calories) TOTAL: 26 800 calories // Daily potential: 2 230 calories (For a 12 days walk) |
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DEPARTURE/ ARRIVAL
Official start of the performance: Saturday, September 21 at 9 am, Family residence, Jonquière, Quebec, Canada. Scheduled end to the performance: Wednesday, October 2 (unspecified time), Place des Arts, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Actual end of the performance (Arrival) : Sunday, September 29, 10am, Place des Arts, Montreal, Quebec, Canada DAILY SUMMARY DAY 1 Voted option: Weight Watcher // Km walked today: 37 km // Cities crossed today: Saguenay // Progression: 37 km (7.7 %) DAY 2 Voted Option: Ladder // Km walked today: 43 km walked + 20 km free // Cities crossed today: Réserve faunique des Laurentides // Progression: 100 km (20.8%) DAY 3 Voted option: Sugar Crush // Km walked today: 45 km // Cities crossed today: Réserve faunique des Laurentides // Progression: 145 km (30.2%) DAY 4 Voted option: Ladder // Km walked today: 45 km + free 20 km // Cities crossed today: Réserve faunique des Laurentides // Progression: 210 km (43.8%) DAY 5 Voted option: Sugar Crush // Km walked today: 46 km // Cities crossed today: Québec, Ste-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier, Pont-Rouge // Progression: 256 km (53.3%) DAY 6 Voted option: Ladder // Km walked today: 47 km + 20 free km // Cities crossed today: St-Basile, // Progression: 323 km (67.3%) DAY 7 Voted option: Hunger Games // Km walked today: 52 km // Cities crossed today: Trois-Rivières // Progression: 375 km (78.12%) DAY 8 Voted option: Ladder // Km walked today: 65 km + 20 free km // Cities crossed today: Yamachiche… // Progression: 460 km (95.8%) DAY 9 Voted option: Ladder // Km walked today: 20 free km // Cities crossed today: Montréal // Progression: 480 km (100%) |
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