WALTZ OF THE ABSURD

about

This video piece sprouted form being lonely in the studio - feeling isolated and feeling like I’m going a bit crazy. My studio is a mix between the flat and one day of week the actual studio - which feels like an empty odd space, not really a home or something I can settle into.

The project started with the idea for a performance piece - a line of students connecting each GSA accommodations to show the students uniting (all planned and socially distanced) - but there was no way that Health and Safety would allow me to do it at risk of Covid.

An alternative I thought would be to make sculptures of students and create the line but that would be a lot of work. Then I decided to make sculptures of the other students in my studio space - to fill up the room and make me feel less alone.

However I didn’t have the materials or time to make 3 sculptures so I started with one - but making 2 heads, one of me and a vague one. Then deciding to experiment with what I had made, I tried a few videos wearing the masks, using them as puppets and dancing with the sculpture.

I then left the sculpture of myself in the studio for the rest of the week - so instead of making other students for me, I made me for other students. I asked the others to interact with the sculpture and send me photos and I made this into a book.

Stills from video: