A collaborative project with Amanda and Karen.

The topic we touched on was low self esteem. People nowadays in our generation put criticism against themselves at the front. They are worried about how they are perceived by the society regarding on their looks, body or even their personality.

We had Karen stayed still on a chair holding a sign saying “I have low self-esteem. What do you want to comment on my body image? Please write a comment on the corresponding body part.”

Karen is acting as the supposedly low self esteem girl. She is depressed at her body image and is very concerned about how the society perceived her. Her body acts as a blank canvas and our group had our classmates to put down their thoughts about Karen’s body image directly onto her. We briefly gave them a simple instruction, to read the sign and told them that they could write wherever they want with the provided markers. The audiences would have full freedom/control of the artwork.

The ‘source’ materials are open to all; to remix, re-edit and redistribute, either within a particular DIWO event or project, or elsewhere. The process is as important as the outcome, forming relationally aware peer enactments. – Marc Garrett

The only down point is that people would naturally take a peek on what other audiences wrote. Therefore their thoughts might also change due to after looking at what the previous person had gotten down on Karen.

Our idea is mainly to have audiences to make contributions towards our ‘canvas’ and the process of them putting down their thoughts. Unlike the traditional art making by a single artist whereby the end result is only thing they are looking for. Similarly to Yoko Ono’s Cut Piece whereby we can’t take control of the outcome. The audiences are the ones that will determine the outcome at the end. If there’s isn’t any participants, the blank canvas would remain blank.