With a sudden surge in spontaneous expressions affection between strangers such as; the Free Hugs movement and Amma the Hugging Saint, I wonder, what is the origin of this need for contact? Is it due to an increase in communication online and increasingly segmented communities, are people less used to communicating face-to-face?
I am equally intrigued with science and pseudo-science, the work of noted autistic author and scientist Dr. Temple Grandin, and her creation; an apparatus called the squeeze machine. The machine applies a pressure over a large part of the body and has a positive effect. This same logic is re-appropriated in this project to attempt to simulate the positive effects of a hug with the use of a wearable device within the gallery space. The project comments on the need for human contact, dislocation of communities, and our intertwining relationships with machines.
The project, Corner Seat at Intersection Café, aims to capture a moment in time in Dublin through its observation of people at a particular spot in an Irish Café. The aim is to recapture the essence of life on this busy junction, the people who frequent it and the passers by. The piece is intended to be a metaphor for time and place in Ireland's capital.
Located on the busiest street corner in Ireland, at any given moment this modest coffee shop can be seen as a snapshot of a time and place. Almost all sections of Irish life can be seen here, from the locals, to the people from the country up for the day, young mothers with children, groups of foreigners, couples, commuters, the new and old Irish. There is a feeling about the place that if not every section of Ireland is represented here, they can certainly be seen passing by its windows.
The project is so intended to be a reflection of the nature of modern urban life, through its study of the intersections of lives for a brief moment. It is a cross-section, that captures a unique moment, a combination of people and events which will never be repeated. It is a democratic portrait of something that not everyone would consider worth preserving.
Rexotrek Two roomed mixed media installation (2008)
Rexotrek aims to encourage the user to see the world from a dog’s perspective. The project is informed by an interest in the relationship between dog and man and how we still do not know a great deal about how dogs perceive the world, even though our lives have been intertwined for centuries. In some scientific fields it remains somewhat taboo to state that animals can experience emotion. In contrast to this, pet owners tend to insist on the fact that their dog, cat or gerbil has the capacity to feel happy, sad or lonely. With the material the artist collected dealing with her own dog Rex, she proposes a subjective expression through the medium of installation, video and audio.
Devices such as GPS, mini CCTV camera, mini-disk recorder with a VOiP headset were used to attempt to record the happiness of the dog. While exploring the notion of dog as artist.
The user is required to get down on their hands and knees to experience this piece, listening to Rex’s breathing, rhythm and the sounds of his environment. The artist believes it is a good way to get a genuine and adequate insight into a dog’s emotional state.
The CheerUp aims to lift the spirits. This sound piece hopes to create a positive experience by applauding the user with various levels of enthusiasm each time it is activated.
Marketing happiness in a culture of immediate gratification, is an area that facinates the artist. In this piece she explores happiness and it's symptoms as product. It plays with the notion of user as performer.
How it works
The user steps on a sensor mat. This activates applause. The user smiles. Their photo is taken. They keep stepping on and off the mat and their invisible audience becomes more and more appreciative.
