For this experiment I was intrigued to explore what contextualises everyday activity/ living experience as a whole.
In my mind this means the constant presence of my phone. Whether I am taking a photograph of an experience or experiencing something through it, my phone seems to affect the ‘realness’ of lived experience.
The constant taking of photographs stands out to me in particular. Instead of being an artistic choice to take a photograph, it seems to be an attempt to preserve the experience as it was. This feels impossible; pictures don’t tend to contain of the warmness or feeling of a real experience. Yet it’s almost a reflex to pull out my phone and take a photo of an experience while its happening.
For my video project I wanted to make a piece which expressed a desire for more real experiences.
I used four red party streamers, hung them with string and tape in the studio, and made them move by waving a piece of cardboard. While I can capture movement with a video on my phone there still seems to be a stillness in capturing video. I wanted to interact with the streamers in an unconventional way, making an active effort to create real movement.
I’ve given thought to two different titles for the piece. The first is ‘Red’, the construction of the piece was so simple maybe it is best to not overthink it. The alternative is ‘Real Life Sex’. Sex stands out to me as an experience which’s ‘realness’ seems under attack by digital perceptions of it. Sex is observed online so often the idea of what the ‘real’ feeling of sex is seems warped. However, the latter title is perhaps a little on the nose so maybe I’ll stick with ‘Red’.