week 4: October, Tuesday 6th 2020
Social Distancing Portrait
Justine Lecluselle
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“Self-isolation tested every aspect of my being. My physical health and mental health were all turned around. But I learned to cope and adjust to this new reality so I can continue with life and school.”
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Video-photograph was taking outside my apartment during a rainy afternoon, subject is my partner who is on there way back to their house. Video was held-up by myself as I held position in unison with Justine – trying very hard not to crack a smile.
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I thought about music inclusion too. Looking around for drone music that would feel sleepy, and decided this song would be appropriate.
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The kind of people Adad Hannah observes are everyday people. The people who cannot afford to be stuck inside their homes, the ones that wish to retain activities from before the pandemic. There are individuals captured playing sports, carrying groceries, taking a job and simply standing. In fact, all subjects are standing as motionless as possible – as if life itself had come to a stand still.
The series of videos that Hannah has created leaves little room for disparity. All videos are captured through a similar process which includes asking people if they would like to be photograph. This is all done while maintaining a 5m distance.
By going outside and engaging with other people, asking how the pandemic’s effected them, he is witnessing the moments of the covid-19 pandemic. Hannah exposes a complex and specific moments that chronicle this difficult time.
Notes:
Justin:
W1:
Excellent notes on Sol Lewitt, Yoko Ono, Nauman complete and very good evidence of curiosity and engagement with material.
Kilometre image and description – seems related to conceptual practice, I like how you showed all your thinking, and each component could be an expression of a KM. I like how you measured the kilometre precisely and how you documented it in multiple forms. Which do you find most interesting though?
W2: Image of Abramovic/Stillness gesture, and description complete and a great simple idea! I appreciate you made yourself uncomfortable/challenged and even embarrassed – to create interest and meaning in the work– this is hilarious to be under the low coffee table! I’d love to see this as a video, with all the ambient sound of a normal household going on, and you doing this absurd gesture. Wish there was a bit more reference to Abramovic specifically– and a sense you were engaged with that material/ideas.
W3: 6 conceptual sentences are complete and get the idea – to write the simple formula for actions in each piece, as opposed to broader themes. Defenestration image and description are good, wish it had more clarity (when it does the images are better) and more “air” or sky… but I think there should be more reason to throw the keyboard than just because it was around… maybe something frustrated, or about language even… could throwing a keyboard up in the air be a kind of performed poem? Ha! More possibilities to explore/express here, and there should always be a good reason for every choice.
W4: Good notes on Adad’s work to get his formula, and I like your Distancing video,you’re your partner’s performance of stillness. I think it’s good she had a bag, and was really doing something in a real moment, caught in this portrait. Consider having more lighting in front of your subject next time, instead of in the background.
Good effort on these pieces, do go through and think about all the lecture materials and references as thoroughly as you can, there are a lot of good ideas there and make sure everything is intentional. Good work, it’s fun having you in the class!
If you would like to talk with me about your work in progress, readings, exercises, one-on-one comments on your work, and grades – send me an email in the morning to book a 15 minute appointment during my office hours: Thursdays 1:30-3
And you can show up to a zoom meeting with Nathan anytime during these hours to ask your questions, and get tech support for using software and finishing your projects:
Mondays and Thursdays 1-4pm