lararosenoff

So, Ryan and I are working on our project for class. The original idea was to explore how I can present different video pieces within a public space in looking towards my thesis project next year. I envisioned sort of “pods”, that people needed to interact with. The interaction component came out of my research this year, as I was looking into the effectivity of witnessing in today’s consumer culture; how to break through the mass wash of imagery that supports self-interest and indulgence in support of our current system. So, interactivity was a means to break through that-embodied witnessing. There are other components as well, such as allegory, use of public space + networks, but for the sake of this project, interactivity was key. I was pretty sure that I was interested in super low tech interactivity. Mechanical or electrical at the extreme. I didn’t want the piece to stray too far from the culture (Northern Uganda) that I was presenting. Steve was talking quite a bit about considering the object as a means of interface. This opened up a certain sculptural element to the work- how the object can have an additional impact on the participant/viewer.

So, the children’s lift-top desk sprung to mind. Paired with content about child soldiers, I thought that a damaged child’s desk would instantly effect the viewer/participant. Video would be inside + triggered by the lifting of the top. I thought of a mirror placed on the inside top of the desk lid- just to offer a moment of consideration of oneself in relation to the material presented.- trying to connect ourselves to the system in which this occurs…

Steve had a good suggestion about keeping the audio play all the time on a loop- so that on approach, there is a curiosity about what is in the desk. only problem is the non-synching with picture. Ryan had a good idea of minimizing the incongruence- we chose images of children’s drawings and simply subtitled the voice that is playing in a loop. Sort of solved- only issue is that the drawings do not directly correspond with the narrative voice in the subtitles…

That being said, it is really good for me to consider these things before I shoot- Foreign language/subtitle issues will considerable affect the video pieces + interfaces that I present- it is a great conceptual + physical testing ground!

Allright, the first desk burning was great. Ryan organized for us to work at his friend’s vespa shop(!) + the event turned into a community bbq- interestingly, the conversations revolved around (not always, but sometimes), child soldiers, interfaces and art.

Allright, more on the evolution of this soon…