Performance Art

PROJECT #5 :) Lovers Timeline

Project 5- 

Artist statement- 

Artist Statement

For this assignment I decides to keep things simply and simply explore what’s been on my mind lately. I’ve been thinking about childhood memories that are a mix of happy and unhappy memories. One’s childhood is a time for development, and when bad things happen during your childhood, that’ll affect your development. This idea of these memories both making us who we are and also just constantly on our minds is something I wanted to focus on for this project.

To express this idea, I had a teddy bear represent these memories. It supposed to seem sinister or up to no good and docile at the same time. I wake up from a dream, eat breakfast, take some pills, and go back to sleep. At the same time this bear seems to always be there.

Personal Notes

I’m not too happy with this project. I like this concept but I limited myself because of my lack of time. I hope to revisit this work one day.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/COeVF-DDTcs/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

A Fucking Distraction (2021)

Artist Statement:

These past few weeks have been very stressful for me (and I’m sure for all of you too). I have felt like I’ve been restricting myself creatively and I wasn’t sure what to do about it. That’s why I decided to kill two birds with one stone for this performance. The painting in the video was due for my beginning painting class today (Thursday) and this was filmed on Tuesday. I’ve been very stressed about this painting and so I thought recording my process would help me connect to the piece more. For some reason, seeing myself paint helps me feel more involved with the piece. I think it allows me to finally “see” myself creating art. Sure, I can see my hands create the work, but the out-of-body experience you have seeing yourself create from a third person perspective is eye opening. I never noticed how much I move my face when I’m focused on something. No wonder I always have a headache after. Anyways, I thought this would be cool to do since we never really get to see ourselves when we are really focused in on something. I don’t know about you all, but whenever a camera is on me I always acknowledge it. However, I forgot about it for this performance. I painted and forgot the camera existed. That was until I started getting frustrated with the area I was working on. Aside from that, I found this to be a very freeing experience.

Final Project/Artists’ Statement

Hello my peers, here is my coworker Cindy coming in clutch with another contemporary dance for us. 

TW:// light mentioning of sexual harassment

.

.

In these performative images I explore the world of intimate objects in the presence of flesh and the multiple meanings of a cold, lifeless, and careless hand. For my final project I wanted to photograph a performance and create unsettling images. Initially I was just looking for a reason to use my Sears mannequin hand but then I realized this performance took on a life of its own. Hands are such an interesting part of our body and allow us to feel pleasure and pain. Too often are women being guided by the force of the patriarchy in the sense of self agency which I feel can be portrayed in these images. This concept of not asking to be touched or (but being touched on the bus) not asking for someone to cat call you  (but strangers call at you while you are on the light rail) can be  viewed as this idea of unwanted attention or “affection.” Another interesting and introspective lens is my own personal struggles with the idea and sensation of touch. For as long as I can recall I have flinched at a hand on the head, a tap on the shoulder and so much more. The thought of unwanted touch or even touch in general makes my skin crawl and is physically painful which can make meaningful relationships difficult. I grew up in a loving and caring environment (which I am privileged to say as many do not) and thus this frustration with touch comes from my own sensory issues most likely stemming from my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Furthermore I have found myself struggling more with touch as I grow older and see (mostly) men fawning over women, like myself and many others, and I become fearful of their intent. Touch controls so many aspects of our lives whether we are aware of it or not. These photos show a tragic, lamentable, uncomfortable, and yearning sensation of touch and my wish to either deflect or receive it. 

This project was, in all honesty, the most fun I’ve had in this class. For my performance, I decided to play Super Smash Bros Ultimate with my boyfriend. He doesn’t really like being on camera but the fact that we were playing one of his favorite games made him more willing to make an appearance. We’ve been together for nearly 3 years and we always play this when we’re feeling a bit competitive. I used to be absolutely horrible at the game but over the years he taught me how to properly play and now I can sorta hold my ground against him in a fight. This game is almost nostalgic to me in a way because it helps me look back on the early part of our relationship where we played this all the time. Now with our busy schedules, we play it once in a blue moon. This game is always a fun experience to play with him because I can see how much I’ve improved overtime even if he always wins. I loved that I got to do a performance with him in it since he is such a big part of my life. I’m glad that I got this experience with him.

For reference in the video, I’m playing as Kirby and he is playing as Mewtwo

I can wear makeup out in public with less concern what others think. I can put on a ridiculous amount of eyeliner and eyeshadow, but still feel somewhat confident. Feeling insecure in public happens, but it’s at home when I feel the worst. Something about my family seeing me with my face full of makeup that creates this strong sense of guilt and embarrassment. I displayed this in the last project, but wanted to take it a step further in this one, and face this fear. I had my mother in the room as I applied lipstick. As I did this I talked about this guilt and embarrassment I feel. I began shivering and I struggled to say my words. I knew I was scared, but the feeling was a lot more intense than I imagined.

I then asked her to simply respond to what I did. She questioned why I apply makeup on me, and if there’s a message I was trying to send with it. The only thing I responded  was that it just brought me joy. Although the conversation turned into a little religious lecture, it did end on a positive note. She basically stated that I should do what makes me feel comfortable in my appearance. I’m unsure how to feel after this project. 

Project 4

When I was a kid my mom taught me how to fold origami cranes that she calls swooses - I have no idea where she got that from, apparently it is the word for a goose/swan hybrid. Regardless, I remember I was so excited when she pinched the paper bird’s chest and pulled on it’s tail, causing the wings to flap. It wasn’t long after that I was mass producing these swooses at an alarming rate so that I could ensure each of my elementary school classmates could share in the joy they brought me. It didn’t really occur to me until recently that my practice in ceramics has reconnected me with that part of my inner child. I find it so very exciting to be able to create objects that bring others as much joy as they bring to me. I feel so incredibly lucky and grateful that I this is what I am able to do with my life.

For this project I knew I wanted to find a way that I could allow others to channel their creativity into something that was interactive. When I was first brainstorming for ideas, I thought about one of my favorite works of all time - Yayoi Kusama’s Obliteration Room. She created truly such an ingenious way of allowing the work to evolve through the creative participation of those who were lucky enough to walk through the installation. I wondered about how something similar could be accomplished in the art building, but felt that there was no way I could accomplish a similar visual effect given the reduced amount of students with in person classes this semester. My friend Serei suggested that I should try to find a way to minimize the space that participants could interact with if there weren’t very many of them. So I settled on interactive canvases. In the hallway of the art building I hung three canvases and provided participants with a plethora of the most exciting/nostalgic children’s art supplies that I could afford. Although I attempted to steer the theme in the direction of “unleash your inner child on these canvases”, I really just wanted to see how people would interact with the canvases in general. Honestly, I don’t think I could have asked for a better result. People were vulnerable, supportive, whimsical, and creative with their participation. It truly has brought me so much joy, and I hope that it has at least brought a little to the participants. 

I will be leaving them up in the hallway for as long as I possibly can so if any of y’all walk by in the hallway, please feel free to interact how you please! Thank you so so much to everyone who has participated. 

Project 3- Sit’s specific locations