Beautiful Radiating Energy, a performance by K8 Hardy, is given a new life with Raúl de Nieves as the performer. Hardy first performed this live piece with video and sound in 2004 at Reena Spaulings Fine Art, 371 Grand Street, New York. The stage was built by Klara Lidén.

“K8 Hardy’s first live performance for an art venue, Beautiful Radiating Energy debuted at Reena Spaulings Fine Art, New York in 2004. Hardy trained in experimental voice to use her body and speech to generate a character — part-cheerleader, part-militant — who screams “Ready!” again and again. Hardy is all presence, but her figure cuts against a projected image. On a video signal stream female body builders, footage of gay rights marches, New York street scenes, and more. Hardy was one of a community of artists on New York’s Lower East Side testing how people are always being looked at, how women are always being looked at. I see Beautiful Radiating Energy as an un-coerced image of beauty, body work, erotic and political expression. As Gregg Bordowitz wrote in Grey Room in 2006, ‘She was announcing her readiness for something without attaching it to a particular object or action. Very queer.’ (Summer 2006; 119) What was held open in the performance then, by Hardy performing, is now passed on to Raúl de Nieves.” – Rhea Anastas