Research Critique 3 – Glitch & The Art of Destruction

Glitch & The Art of Destruction

Members: Hazel, Tanya, JJ, Yeolmae

Synopsis

Our micro project 5 is about destroying physical Styrofoam with different tools. Trying to aim for the idea of while in the process of joining object together there is destruction and failure occurring during the process. For example, the usage of glue is to keep things together, but when applied to foam it deteriorates it. However, the idea was not successful, hence we carried on with the idea of just purely destruction.

1) This project has embraced the imperfection through destruction. Through the destruction of the medium, we allow freedom of errors and unexpected outcome without determining what should our outcome looks like.

For example, at first, our team was planning to use tools such as nails, glue, heat gun, fire to express the idea that tools as such may seem like it is connecting/joining the Styrofoam together however at the same time it destructs our object by leaving it scarred. However, this idea did not work out as planned, as we could not find the necessary tools that we have planned to use. Therefore, we embraced the process of encountering problems and decided to make do with what we can find and continue carrying out our destruction process. We replaced the planned items/process with super glue deterioration, scratching with a plier, breaking with hand and compressing with the clamp instead.

Through the filming process, it is inevitable for having sound or unstable hand camera movement. Hence, embracing inconsistencies, we incorporate such sounds and video movement into our project.

Initially, we thought that the use of UHU/super glue on foam would deteriorate it rather fast and the result would be obvious. However, it did not work out and by embracing such accident we just tried to further destruct it by filming it in a time-lapse and chaotic manner.

“The negative definition also has a positive consequence: it helps by (re)defining its opposite.”

2) Originally, it was a rectangular typical block of Styrofoam that we all recognize, through the process of destruction and deterioration it has become something that is irregular, out of shape and full of traces of “scar” that reflects the process it has gone through. In addition with the further inconsistency of filming and added on video editing effects, it became unrecognizable from the video. Instead of bringing it to the most basic and raw form we bring it to its limit. Testing the limit of how far can the foam endure destruction.

3) It is an artistic expression because we allow people to see objects either in its truest raw form or the limits of its qualities. At the same time through such expressions, we embrace and explored flaws. Nothing is perfect and things eventually deteriorate through the passage of time. Even if time and destructions cause imperfections that stays–like scars (perhaps a human form of glitch/destruction), it is important to recognize their existence, acknowledge them and accept them. Be it non-living items, technologies or human social behavior they are the same existing in all context and it is important for people to realize it. Through no restrictions and rules for perfection, the freedom of expression is able to create unexpected outcomes that enable us to learn about things around us in a deeper level instead of staying superficial with our limited perception. Looking at things from a different perspective could open up many more possibilities.

“They’re imperfect, they are not clean, because they exist in the world, which is also imperfect. And so, I do believe that dirty new media as a way of life and as an approach to art making is a way of foregrounding these facts, these realities, of our lived experiences.”

February 15, 2018February 19, 2018

Research Critique 2 (Week 5)

Connecting with others (by Felicia and Hazel)

Synopsis

My team’s telematics performance is about connecting with others that you don’t know through third space. In this project, it is performed in the 2d and 3d room. I’m supposed to “connect” to five other strangers by doing different actions with them. There are five levels to each action and as the level proceed the intimacy level of it increases. The five actions start off with E.T. finger pointing, Hi-Five, heart shape, scissors-paper-stone and finally followed by kissing through the third space. We combined both crowdsource and telematics performance together and came out with this idea.

Analysis

To me, third space is a space that is formed when combining a physical space and a remote space together. It is a space that allows us to communicate and interact through any platform/mediums as long as it connects people from a different location that is far apart. Be it through games, virtual or non-virtually.

Boundaries of third space can be collapse by allowing people to have a real life, real-time experience despite staying at different location creates a form of an illusion of “realness”. For example, in my group’s telematics performance, the Facebook live was happening in real-time and interactions can be received and reacted instantaneously. As a result, it creates a connected space as if we are in the same space/environment interacting despite being at a different location. If our project happened to have any time lag, I believe the result will not be as believable. It breaks the illusion and unique experience of third space.

The intimacy of third space can be created by tricking ourselves of having the illusion of feeling intimate with our senses and real-time experience. For example, visually, anything that we see that is life size naturally we will find it realistic and believable. Such visuals in turns lead us into believing in the sense of touch. In addition, listening to the sound in a real-time manner further making us into believing that third space is a reality. Likewise in my project, we included a lot of such touching, visual and real-time experience which brings a new perspective towards intimacy whereby one does not need to be physically present to feel intimate. Rather, we create intimacy by sharing the same space. Even if the platform is different such as speaking or texting through phone, you will still feel the sense of sharing the same time or moment.

“The third space is a fluid matrix of potentiality and realizable connections to the most far-reaching remoteness.”

“A space with no geographical boundaries.”

For my project, I have “touched” our participants by doing the action first and let them synchronize their action with me in the middle of the split screen. It has to be at the right distance and connecting point in order for it to work or feels real. Before we start our Facebook live, we have technical issues and we solve it by communicating in another third space platform which is Whatsapp. During the live video, we collaborate with one another by giving gesture hints or simply speak to each other through facebook live to work things out.

Other examples

Our project is similar to examples such as the Telematics Dreaming by Paul Sermon and The Big Kiss by Annie Abrahams. Both our project and the given examples play with the idea of make using our sense of visual and touch to connect with strangers in an intimate manner. However, both projects differ in ours being able to speak and communicate, while the examples mentioned above doesn’t.

Reflection

Before this project, I only view third space as a platform for communicating or socializing purposes. However, my role as the participant of this project makes me notice how “real” and “intimate” the experience could actually be in this third space. Doing all the other four action was fine but until the last part, which is kissing, deep down I hesitated a bit before I actually act upon it. I didn’t expect this as I thought I know very well that this space is “fake”. However, turns out that subconsciously I felt that it is rather “real”.

February 3, 2018February 5, 2018

Research Critique 1 (Week 3)

FIRST IMPRESSION (group members: Felicia, Fizah, Hazel)

SYNOPSIS

My team’s crowdsourced artwork is about other’s perception versus against our own self’s perception. We begin with asking our teammate about her self-perception. Followed by letting others write their first impression of her on her arms. However, we realized we should have asked people to write on her back instead so they won’t be afraid to write their honest opinions. The result turns out that people have positive impression of her instead of more negative ones which is how she has viewed herself.

ANALYSIS

In contrast to traditional art made by a single artist, we do not have control over the outcome of this project. The concept of crowdsourcing project is to “ allows space for an openness where a rich mixing of components from different source crossed over and build a hybrid experience.”. Therefore, the need for different responses is required in order to create this project.

This project is a departure from traditional artistic creation as it happens in a real-time manner which requires a direct interaction between the audience and the artist. Also, Different locations with different crowds could have resulted in a different outcome. People may react differently according to what other’s has already done in prior. Hence, there are many variables that are very uncertain as compared to traditional modes of artistic creation.

My team’s crowdsource artwork is very similar to Yoko Ono’s “Cut Piece”. It is similar in terms of requiring our teammate to become an “object” and allowing people to freely label her as to how they perceive her. Similarly, our work also brings an intended message.

OTHER EXAMPLES

Before being introduced to Yoko Ono’s work, I’ve come across another similar example years ago. “Rhythm 0” by Marina Abramovic in 1974. This crowdsource artwork had left me with a deep impression. It is about revealing the terrible side of humanity.

“Rhythm 0” by Marina Abramovic in 1974, Objects

REFLECTION

Personally, I felt that crowdsource artwork is not just about collaborating and creating amazing artwork of unexpected outcome or gathering of different responses. I felt that it also serve as an impactful art that reflects the society and ourselves. As stated in DIWO article, “Diwo is a collective approach that allows peers connect, communicate and collaborate, creating controversies”. Through the process of crowdsourcing artwork, it doesn’t just allow unlimited possibilities of ideas and fun. It also reveals how we as humans react in certain circumstances, which bring across social issues that we always tend to neglect on.

Hence, I was very inspired by Marina Abramovic artwork and have always wanted to try out such crowdsource artwork. Therefore derived to the perception idea that my group and I have. If there is one thing I could improve on our crowdsource artwork experiment is that to have the opportunity to experiment it at a different location. Having our subject to stand still and emotionless. Carrying a board saying “What is your first impression of me?”. I would be really curious to find out how will the outcome be like as the audience now are all strangers of different age and backgrounds.