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Project 01 - Distortion
The concept of this project is to convey to the audience a sense of dread or perhaps familiarity through a series of pictures which are presented from a first person perspective. In each picture, an activity is portrayed, along with an object which project a distortion, which itself has a bigger presence in each advancing image. In the first image, the action that occurs is waking up, and the source of the distortion is the watch. The second is having a glass of juice and the source of distortion is the mobile phone. The third is reading an item catalogue and the source of distortion is the oven. The fourth is having a microwavable ready meal and the source of the distortion is the television. The fifth one is interacting with the computer and the source of distortion is the window frame. In the first 4 pictures, the distortion comes from man made devices, except from the last image where the distortion comes from outside. I wanted to portray the feeling of solitude. There are obvious symbols for this such as the empty chair in the table, the microwavable ready meal which is consumed on a fold up table staring at a television, and the game of Solitaire that appears on the screen. For most people it’s a greatly unwanted situation to be in. Yet for others it’s an ideal way of life. The main inspiration for this piece comes from a book called “Party of One – The Loner’s Manifesto” by Anneli Rufus which argues that the need to be alone should not be looked down and ostracized. The emotions I hope this project will stir up are purely subjective. If you think this self imposed exile is unsuitable for human beings then you will only see through these images a bleak version of life which gets bleaker with each progressing image. But on the other hand the fact that the devices produce distortion not because they are foreign elements which force the isolation of individuals but quite the contrary it’s perhaps they are not used. The watch is not used because there is no need to be punctual since there is no one to need. There is no need to use the mobile phone because there is no need to talk to anyone. There is no need to use the oven because there is no need to prepare a fancy meal for guests. There is no need to see television because there is no need to get in contact with the world. And in the end, there is no need to go outside and socialize since everything you need is inside a self made fortress of solitude. |
