In the Australian artist Lynette Wallworth's 'Evolution of Fearlessness' she successfully deals with loss and its aftermath, survival and, beyond that, hope and strength.
Wallworth's practice extends across video installation, photography and film, drawing out the multiplicities of the interconnected relationship between human subject/viewer, and the surrounding world. Technology is employed to facilitate a heightened perceptual interface between the viewer and realms of scientific knowledge and metaphysical, even spiritual, experience.
The interactive piece 'Evolution of Fearlessness' responds to touch, the viewer enters the dark room and puts their hand up to touch the heat sensitive glowing blue light. Then an image of a women comes up also with her hand up now touching in effect, the viewers, the women is looking straight and gives the sense of looking into the viewers eyes. You can see in all the women's eyes that their lives have not been easy ones. Wallworth chose to use women who have survived the worst of conditions from war zones, she filmed portraits of several women residing in Australia but originating from countries such as Afghanistan‚ Sudan‚ Iraq, and El Salvador. A reason for this was to teach others of the hardships people have gone through.
To beckon someone with the touch of a hand is one of the most innate, unmediated of human actions. It implies the intimacy of one to one interaction, and was one of the most striking qualities of work exhibited at the International Festival d’Art Lyrique, Aix-en-Provence.
I think that this piece of art work was an amazingly emotionly touching way to educate veiwers about the hardships these women went through, i think it would have been a very affecting gallery to personaly veiw. I also think it was a great way to pay tribute to these women.
References:
http://www.a-n.co.uk/interface/reviews/single/445970
http://www.melbournefestival.com.au/program/production?id=2772
http://festival.sundance.org/2009/film_events/films/evolution_of_fearlessness
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
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