Laurie Anderson Shares Three Rules for Life with Striking Performance Art Piece

Laurie Anderson recently shared three rules for life through a unique performance art piece titled Return of the Buffalo: Tatanka Owe Akupi. The performance took place in Downtown Brooklyn on September 19th, featuring a procession of 40 life-size buffalo puppets along with musicians, actors, dancers, poets, tribal elders, and community groups.

Anderson's rules for living, developed with her late husband Lou Reed, included: "Don't be afraid of anybody," "Get a really good bullshit detector and learn how to use it," and "Be really tender." During the performance, Anderson utilized her own body as an instrument, striking her chest and limbs while electronic percussion accompanied her words.

She addressed the anger she observes in society today, urging the audience to look beyond it rather than simply reacting. Anderson suggested that understanding the root of someone's anger could ultimately lead to empathy, stating, "So many people are so angry these days. Try to understand this anger." The two-day public art project was created by Amir Nizar Zuabi in collaboration with Elders from the Lenape and Lakota Tribes, using the buffalo's return from near extinction as a symbol of healing, resilience, and renewal.