Solipsism
C o n c e p t
ESCAPISM.
ɪˈskeɪpɪz(ə)m,ɛˈskeɪpɪz(ə)m/
noun
the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, especially by seeking entertainment or engaging in fantasy.
To find refuge in the safe haven we created out of fiction and dreams;
An inner sanctum
Far away from the outside world
Rid of noise and hate,
Disappointments and curses
Complexity and time,
Impossibilities and limits.
However, are we just conceited to think that this is reality?
Living in such a peaceful and protected country, we are shielded from the many atrocities out there in the world. Sometimes, it is just so difficult to comprehend that such violence and hate exist. Many a times, we would like to believe that the world is just as peaceful:
No natural disasters.
No violence.
No hate.
No riots.
No nothing.
However, this is a mere delusion on our part.
If we just listen, if we just open our eyes a bit more, we’ll realise that the world is in a worse state that what we perceive it to be.
Artist statement
This installation seeks to break away from this false reality that everything’s okay. We will be creating a space where audiences will be dragged away from their walls of comfort to see what the real deal in the world is.
The Installation
In our installation space, we will have 2 videos playing concurrently.
There will be a video of our perceived reality–a place of comfort and peace–juxtaposed against a video of reality–chaos and troubles in different parts of the world.
The two screens projected on walls facing each other, with the ice installation in between.
Medium used
2 Video installations with an ice installation.
2 Videos
Mishmash of appropriated works that would display:
- Our perceived reality
- Chaos in the outside world.
Ice Installation
A block of ice with a motif within.
Relationship between content and form
To convey our idea of escapism and ignorance, we decided to incorporate ice in our installation.
Why ICE?
It is used to preserve
Slows down the decaying process
The melting state of ice
Being a metaphor for the chaos in the world
The water molecules haphazard movement/lack of order in the liquid state vs the uniform and pristine structure of the solid state
The frosted nature of ice prevents things to be seen clearly
Skewed perspective (due to not seeing things clearly) resulting in a misinformed worldview, (thus our idea)
Logistics
Two projectors
A block of ice
flower
Cloth partition
Location
Critique Room at B1
Artist Reference:
Diana Thater
https://art21.org/artist/diana-thater/
https://mcachicago.org/Exhibitions/2016/Diana-Thater
She mainly deals with video projection , television monitors and screens placed on the flat ground. However, what my group is planning to focus on is the how she uses video projections to create an immersive space for her installation.
One example of her work is Delphine (1999)(Fig1),
Her usage of a video projector helps to break out the rectangular frame of the video and the dolphins projected on the wall allows the viewers to immerse themselves into the space and imagine the fluidity movement of the dolphins swimming in different angles. As for my group’s work, we are planning to use a video projector to project two screens, one is based on reality while the other is our perceived reality. By using a projector on a screen, we are able to let the viewers to immerse themselves into that video and be able to picture how each reality feels like.
Her main themes revolve around human and nature that is how humans have destroyed nature. Her techniques of juxtaposition and layering of animals and plant life. She then projected what she has filmed in different angles. My group plans to do a narrative that could involve some layering to tell how true reality can be hidden or blurred from perceived reality.
Bill Viola
We were inspired by how Bill Viola manipulates different elements to show reveal two contrasting ideas through his video installation.
Acceptance (2008)
For his work on Acceptance, he beautifully depicts the transience of life, stepping from one realm to another. Running water was used to distinct the two realms from each other – the effect created as the lady crosses the barrier is amazingggggg.
The Crossing (1996)
Using natural elements like fire and water, Bill conveys his message of the creation and destruction, placing both works side by side with the constancy of the man in both videos.
Bahar Yurukoglu
http://www.anothermag.com/art-photography/8558/the-artist-using-neon-geometry-as-a-means-of-escapism
“Fascinated by what happens when the extremities of the natural world and the synthetic combine, the artist is so bewitched by geometry she “sees squares and triangles rather than buildings and mountains.” Air-conditioning chills the space, and a recording of melting ice fills the air.”
Omar Fast
“Within the variables of spoken and stunning, visual narrative, Omar Fast challenges human susceptibility to preconceived notions within genre placing it under his critical hand. Skewing fact and fiction within digital arrangements of collaged appropriated news footage, as well as aerial shots and cinemacially glorious self-productions. Within the facade of seemingly legitimate forms he pushes our ability to extrapolate truth in meaning within the assemblage of a discordant media forms.”
CNN Concatenated (2002)
For video #2, we would like to use a similar technique to present chaos. By appropriating news footages, we can bombard audience with the happenings in the world and evoke a sense of discomfort in them.
Process
Idea 1 :
To create a space frozen in time, seconds before chaos happens.
Eg. a cup of milk almost spilling, chair tilting over
Juxtaposed against projections of the calm and peaceful which is what the audience indulge in.
Idea 2:
A pavilion of peace and dreams
Slowly disintegrating
Broken shards of crystals
Sound of chaos, (reversed or not)
Idea 3:
Video installation depicting the chaos happening in the world;
Poverty, disasters, riots, etc.
Fogged spectacles will be issued upon entering the installation space.
As the audience see the screen through the fogged spectacles, they would see blurred images, colours/ phosphenes (the imaginary)
As the fog starts to wear off, the audience will slowly be exposed to the unpleasant realities projected on the screen.
Idea 4:
Video installation with interactive space
“Take me away
For I am not made for here
The palms of my hands cannot contain what the world has to offer
My shoulders,
broken and crumbled under forced responsibilities and duties,
cannot hold the weight of consequences
My knees give way when I chase my dreams
My feet heavy,
Dragging dismay and disappointment
The voice of my heart silenced by the reality of things
My ears deafened by the hateful noise of this world
My soul deconstructed
And this suffocating space
I cannot take
Bring me away
For I am not made for here”
Multiple video screens would be used, playing the backdrop to the inner sanctum – the fairytale-sque interactive space we created.
Through time, the video would slowly show cracks, slowly revealing the chaos/reality happening outside the inner sanctum.
This whole installation reveals the deep desire of an individual to flee from the harsh reality by hiding within herself. She soon realises there’s no point escaping; reality is inevitable.
She has to face it.
Possible content of narrative
A student who is bullied and misunderstood both in school and at home. She thus retreats within herself as that is her only form of escape, the only place that she feels safe in.
Idea 5:
Video Installation
Peace vs chaos.
Though we live in the same world, our experiences are almost polarizing from one another.
Example
Cutting chicken in sg
Vs
Stabbing someone elsewhere in the world.
The video shows the juxtaposition of peace and chaos around the world; just because you are feeling peace does not mean chaos does not exist.
Idea 6:
Layers of cloth acting as screens. Videos of the calm and peaceful projected on these cloths.
At the end of the walkway, there will be a screening of a video with collages of chaos walking past the cloths, towards the end, the chaos video becomes clearer (was blur at first as a result of the translucent cloth in front of it.)
Shows how one cannot escape from reality forever. The delusions that everything is alright doesnt make everything alright at all.
