Tuesday 31 May 2011

anchor points

Are objects the anchor points that connects society through attachment and symbiosis. Is emotional detachment and the throwaway culture integral to the development of technology and reinforces what is considered the uprising of consumerism.

Objects have a life span, a social order and potential shape-shifting qualities. The old adage of one man’s rubbish is another man’s treasure is so true and prevalent in modern culture. Take a used valve that may be found in a garbage can, this broken piece of yesterday’s technology can be elevated from the humble scrap heap to a collector’s appraised gaze. A piece of junk has created interest in it’s viewer and now has altered it’s anchor point towards another perspective through attachment and symbiosis.

Liminal time has governed this reattachment and through this metaphysical subjective state the transgression both historically and socially. Liminality concerns itself with the threshold of or between two different existential planes as in the case of the valve, trash and treasure

The creation of Lucien Fellowes serves as a conduit for my theory of self imposed liminality. I have created a nomenclature to highlight my interest in duality and juxtaposition. This character is on the threshold of reality and is also an imaginary character that I have devised.

He is lost within the dimension that is concerned with time and has links to the third dimension that is space. This is not a science fiction based concept but is founded within physics. The relationship to the opening gambit and to Mr. Fellowes is that he collect such anchor points and re-represents through a confused state of self interest.

As mentioned, I am interested in duality in humanity both mentally and the physical and also in folklore. I have been looking for artistic references for this essay and the name of Ilya Kabakov. Kabakov is a Russian/American artist who works within the conceptual area of art. He uses fictional biographies within his art and he creates installations that evokes various visual cultures.

I find this inspiring and highly advantageous towards my practice as well as the author Chuck Palahniuk. This author wrote books such as Fight Club and Rant. It must be said that these books are less about macho culture but more about the human condition. Liminal time is explained within Rant and Fight Club concerns itself with the duality of persona and insomnia. Insomnia my bring on effects of this threshold of sleep and awakeness.

So, objects hold this power to alter the perception and social order of itself. It can and will transform itself from humble origins towards a position in high esteem.

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