Werds

I had originally wanted to work with how escapism affected myself, others and society in general. However, this is a much larger issue when it comes to combining it into only a few projects within time restraints. I think that I could have simplified my topic and this would have allowed me to target one particular aspect of escapism. I wanted to address the different issues over the span of the work, focusing the video on the drug aspect and the performance piece on the dream section. I was pleased that the last project allowed me to “explore the study and art of movement during sleep and the relationships between the subconscious activity and the body” as I had originally stated in my first artists statement.

I found one of the most challenging aspects (other than the initial frustration of forming an idea) was time and time-management; not only to create the piece, learn how to use/situate technologies, deal with set-backs and editing time, but also time to re-work the pieces. I felt that my video art was too general of a piece. It took longer than expected to gather, sort and edit the material into the program I was using. I had to restart it because I had incorrectly organized the data on my computer. I was unhappy with the result of the piece and was sick of it by the end!

I wanted to re-make my entire video into one based around one particular dream I had. In order for me to successfully recreate a dream, the audio-visual aspects are important, but even more so, the tone, atmosphere and feeling from the dream. This, I believe, would be the most difficult thing to communicate since I would have to re-imagine and then try to communicate this feeling to a conscious audience, even though it was first experienced when I was asleep. Even then, each viewer of this new film would have their own experience and perspective as a way of interpreting my video. This would require me to re-work the whole film. Due to time constraints I was unable to do this. I would like to do this eventually, perhaps as a project over the summer. Or even as part of a whole series of videos depicting dreams.

I would have liked to change/edit/re-shoot some more photographs too. I would incorporate the surreal into regular life—slight and eerie changes that blur the distinctions between the dreamworld and real world. With this last piece, I think it would have been interesting to use it as part of a performance piece. If this were to work I would have to be in a location where I would be able to sleep safely (and clothed..) where I would not be disturbed by any audiences. I thoroughly enjoyed performing and interacting with the people I met and I hope to create the same style of work.

I felt that my most powerful piece was my performance work. I was originally going to choose the article situated around performance art. I think this would have been more appropriate if I had chosen to do another performance piece for my last project. Instead, I wanted to address a broader concept that applied to my work and Dieter Roelstraete's e-flux article “What is Not Contemporary Art?: The View from Jena.”We have trouble defining what is truly 'real' and what our reality consists of. As the distinctions between the real world and dream world can sometimes be blurred, we may find ourselves in dreams where we perceive what is around us to be our reality. We often take what we are provided with as the truth, rather than questioning it. This reminds me of a quote that we discussed in my high school philosophy course by the Chinese philosopher Zhuangzi “I dreamt I was a butterfly, flitting around in the sky; then I awoke. Now I wonder: Am I a man who dreamt of being a butterfly, or am I a butterfly dreaming that I am a man?”

I think that the distinctions between art and real life are blurred, especially since art is such a subjective topic. Nearly everything can be viewed as art: architecture, natural land/tree formations, animals, humans...in addition to what we create ourselves. Similar to an attempt to answer any epistemological or philosophical question, we only can provide theories and ideas, rather than one specific and frozen definition. I believe that this would limit and marginalize works and attempt to sever creative thought processes. On the other hand, the lack of boundaries and definition may cause many people to experience confusion about abstract and contemporary work, feeling that anything can be 'considered or called art'. I also think that dreams, in an abstract way, could be interpreted as a form of art in itself. Some theories say that dreams we experience correspond to the images and people that we view throughout our lives and during our sleep, our minds review and sort out the information we intake. I think that this is true because I have experienced instances in my dream where the last stranger I may have seen walking down the street, or something that is worrying me, will reappear in my dreams.


I have developed a new way of thinking about and approaching my own work as well as others. The performance piece has inspired to me to explore and experiment with new and non-traditional forms of creative expression I have not had an opportunity to yet experience. I think that I will continue to create some of my works based around certain themes that I am interested in. For my future work I think I would like to explore time, nature and animals.

Splart (sleep+paint=art?)

For this remaining piece, I used a canvas 90cmx120cm. I covered my bed in an old sheet and laid my canvas on top of the sheet. The canvas became a replica of my bed-only a much more uncomfortable one to say the least. I used hair clips and an old bandana to cover my hair and ear piercings. Then I proceeded to cover various areas of my body with globs and dollops of coloured paint, as well as areas of the canvas. I slid onto the canvas, my bed for the night. The speedy drying time of acrylic paint became interesting in this work. In the beginning, I made sure there was some water spread out on all areas of the canvas to help the paint flow and spread as I moved. At one point, there was too much water on the canvas and it began to pool. I scrunched up an old paint shirt to use as a pillow. I started out sleeping on my right side, and I woke up on my back. I only remember waking up once during the night.


The dream: I originally wanted to include or intertwine the dream onto the canvas. I think that it would take away from the abstract qualities of the piece if I portrayed the dream in a literal sense. One of my summer projects is to actually create my own illustrated 'Book of Dreams' inspired by Federico Fellini's. As follows:

I was standing on the north side of our wrap around veranda at my old house. In front of myself is our large willow tree with a tire swing (which has since been cut down due to storm damage.) I do not know what I was wearing. Sitting to the right of the tree is a grey and white wolf. Just staring at me and standing there. I felt afraid, and I felt the urge to escape. I crept along the veranda against the outer wall of the house, still in view of the wolf. I ran to the door nearby that connects to the laundry room and locked the door. I felt relieved and stopped to catch my breath. Suddenly, I was on the other side of the laundry room staring at a huge basket/laundry hamper. The wolf had changed into a huge grizzly bear which was now sitting/laying inside this huge hamper in the laundry room I thought I was safe in. I was not afraid of the bear for some reason. I approached it slowly and noticed that my orange cat was in the basket too, cuddled up to this massive creature. He was playfully swatting at the bear's paws. My Mom walked into the laundry room, stood at the door, and just stared at the two creatures in the basket without saying a word. This was a very short dream, probably due to the small amount of hours I was actually asleep for, and since I went to bed at a relatively late hour. Nevertheless, it was extremely realistic, but not a lucid dream.

Sit Listen Dream: Performance

My performance piece relates to the alternate realities I have personally experienced through dreaming. I began to record all of my dreams in my first dream journal which I received in 2004. I have continued ever since and I wanted to use this project as a chance to share some of these vivid dreams with people I normally would not talk to.

I set up my mattress in the CFT lobby, right across from the giant rocking horse. I made my bed with a few sheets and spread out some of my dream journals. I removed my coat, vest and pants so I would be left in boxers and a tank top. I wrapped myself in white material and settled on the bed. I wore gray face paint around my eyes. This is what I was wearing in one of my more recent dreams and felt that it was appropriate. I left my journals open and inviting for people to look through. People who were passing by were curious as to what I was doing. Many walked up to me and began asking questions. I invited them to sit down on my bed to make themselves comfortable. I picked a dream or sometimes I gave them the chance to pick a dream that I would tell them about in detail. I took breaks/rests/naps in between talking to people. I would move around to find a comfortable position. Prior to the performance, I printed off some dreams that I had typed up. I spent some time writing these dreams into my journals. After one rest, I sat up to find a male student sitting right next to my bed flipping through some of my books.

The world of dreaming has provided me with an escape that places me out of the context of my regular life. As the students passed through the CFT lobby to travel to their next class or wherever they had to be, I interrupted this path; I am something new and out of place they can experience. I invited them to temporarily leave their busy and scheduled life for a chance to experience and visualize something different and new with a complete stranger. Many students were on their way to class but still made time to stop and listen.

I had the opportunity to speak with approximately twelve different people who listened to my dreams over the 1.5 hours I was set up. They provided interesting feedback, their own interpretations and even began discussing their own dreams. It was a very intimate piece because we shared personal information with each other than many people who are closer to us in each of our lives may not have been exposed to. Dreams are very personal. The students who stopped to listen were very open-minded and curious. I was very pleased with the process and result of this piece and I would like to continue it in some form. But first I will buy an inflatable mattress...

Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWGxNHoPO5s

Video Trip

After many technical difficulties and frustrations, I bring you 'LSD is...' This video is a compilation of videos, photographs, sound and music to form a simulation of what one may experience after taking LSD. I have not experienced LSD or any psychedelics myself, however my curiousity as an artist to learn about these experiences have continued to grow throughout this project. I did not want to portray LSD as just one positive or negative experience. People can be biased if they do not have personal experience with something themselves so I wanted to include both positive and negative imagery/sound within this work. I focused more on the positive and creative aspects because I believe it can be interpreted and used as inspiration in terms of artwork.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrnV3qMfbjY

Photographs

Into the clouds


20__ Metropolis?


I'm busy.


Can you see your sorrows?


Exhale

Related Media

I stumbled across a series of drawings that were created at different intervals over the span of one artist's LSD experience. This was part of an experiment conducted by the government in the late 1950's. The male artist was provided with paper, drawing pencils and crayons. The end result reveals the effect of the drug in regards to the artist's perception of reality and inability to maintain consistent control over drawing materials. Accompanying each of the 9 photographs of the drawings includes a brief description of the artist's behaviour, length of time after taking the first dose, patterns or methods of drawing that were being employed, and anything the artist was saying. I found the commentary and transformations rather interesting. As a form of time-based art created under the influence of an escape drug, this directly relates to what I am currently studying.

http://www.cowboybooks.com.au/html/acidtrip1.html

Artist Statement: Drifting Thoughts

The concept of experiencing an alternate or skewed perception of reality has been an interest of mine in relation to art and philosophy. I regularly experience vivid and lucid dreams that transform the plain concrete walls of my residence room into the mountains of Asia or even the space inside a deceased celebrity's head...many of these experiences prove to be exponentially more interesting than a regular day of university lectures, daunting deadlines and cafeteria food.

Escapism exists in many forms, including dreaming. Escapism is the mental diversion from reality by indulging the mind in alternate activities, imaginative fantasies and entertainment.

Everyday, people are bombarded with fear, worry, pressure and stress that seep from their work, education and relationships. Rather than eliminating or dealing with the issue, we often choose to avoid them. Many forms of escapism consume time and money with no real fulfilling benefit other than the short-term satisfaction of procrastination. Movies and television provide a temporary break from our problems and thoughts by removing us from the context of our own lives. The media and increased use of technology has moved away from solely entertainment, to a way of life. Simulation, role playing games and the internet allow us to create a new identity and persona of our choice. Experimentation and recreational drugs are dated methods of detaching one from the self and society, in addition to enhancing spiritual growth and reflection.

As an artist and naturally curious being, I question my 'reality' and environment, or at least my thoughts about the way I perceive it. How do I respond to my surroundings and how do I deal with conflicts within myself? Can we live without escapism? Are we still able to experience entertainment, leisure and even recreational drugs in moderation without diverting from our responsibilities? Can a middle ground between the two extremes exist?Just a few thoughts that I may refer back to while completing my work.

As a first year university student subjected to the tortures of three hour modern art lectures, I have had my share of glorious daydreams and lecture naps. Escapism affects everyone at varying degrees pending on factors unique to each individual.

Daydreaming and 'unfocused' thoughts are somewhat discouraged, I feel, as we begin to mature and start living in 'the real world' – are we taught to suppress our child-like sense of wonder and imagination? Can we recognize our faults as humans that we have created a society full of unrealistic expectations and stress, and that while escaping the lives we have created for ourselves, we may be causing further harm? We need to stop taking everything so seriously.

My future work revolving around this theme will explore escapism: as it directly affects myself; how I observe it to affect others in my environment; the ways society experiences escape and its effect. The angles I am targeting are flexible and are subject to change. Major themes may include the use of psychedelics, the media and dreaming. I am particularly interested in exploring the study and art of movement during sleep and the relationships between subconscious activity and the body. The average human spends approximately 1/3 of their life sleeping. This is a large portion of time that I would like to explore and have a greater understanding of. I would like my work to involve the alternate worlds and experiences I have reached through dreaming, in some form yet to be determined.