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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.