It’s a very late update after 2 months of the Continuum Exhibition has been held at Kedai KL and Saan1 Manchester Art Gallery. I would like to share the process of how it’s done and what it’s meant to be in this collide series of escapism and technology devices. But first, I am thankful to Shakir co-founder of Filamen and Celina curator of Intransit for inviting me into this residency, I was able to experience more practices on how to develop video art and installation based on the accessibilities that can be contribute to the audiences with new techniques and information that is provided throughout the coursework that is given.
The story of creating and process of the both artwork called Khayalan Di Dunia Lain (Imaginative World in Another Dimension) and Be “Us” significantly started off with the topic of escapism, at first I was abit bold of going back and forth of continuing this theme since I have been doing research of escapism based on video games and the technology devices that has affect our modern days from degree thesis to master level. It may sounds odd but it’s an happening issue in these days, we might be driven into this devices we have been keeping to ourselves especially mobile phone, laptop and PC. It’s a “must” to have this routine of scrolling onto one of the social medias like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and etc during our leisure time or before to sleep. It’s becoming an unconscious routine that we can’t even separate ourselves from this “maniac” device that we have been relaying on for years.
I love creating surrealistic motions and atmosphere when it comes to video art or installation, I find it pleasant in my eyes, how weird it is to create an artwork based on the emotions and biography of a person had been through such a terrific situation that made them wanting to escape and evolve within the cocoon they made for themselves to feel accepted in this busy modern era, chasing all the trendy stuff going on, unwanted society and etc. The needs plays an important chain to survive as the escapism role is connected it in life by having one object that could solve multiple and countless issues they had to get through everyday. The technology device is the main ingredient to connect the needs, acceptance, escape, and control the life of a person.
Based on the picture of an old barbies collection that i kept till these days, I wanted to use them as a body parts of process making these obnoxious character called Piki and Piko come alive in the video. I am so used to using real body parts that will be taken by pictures or video recording. So, I thought, let’s make a change for once by using this barbie dolls as their body parts, even certain movement are restraint from making it “realistic”, it suits the characteristic of Piki and Piko. To begin with, Piki is based of an old vintage television 90s that is abstracted to not have a characteristic figure of its device form, while Piko is a character that transmit to various types of technology devices in the modern days that left it unshaped and becoming freeform shape instead. As we know these technology devices have its own speciality in life even from the different decades. The roles they own are for entertainment, needs, sources of knowledge, news and etc. It spreads through these devices, it became a powerful object that everyone wants and need it.
The character both of them came alive in their own world of technology devices, by creating a surrealistic atmosphere and dimension. To create of an illusion 3d dimension, I decided to use the materials photos of clay texture and manipulate it into a video motion by using AE Adobe software. Few of the 3D dimension spaces scene are also created by the motion of AE software input. It seems like they are in their own world with separation devices to connect them both from separate screen and begin to talk to each other. Piki and Piko came alive from the power of the needs in life, and they begin to wonder and ponder about wanting to become human. It’s a paradox, a technology device with a solid purpose came alive because mankind creates them out and obnoxiously want to escape from their own world that has been created, while humans trying to seek coping mechanism from the technology device they created wanting to find acceptance and purpose in escapism of technology devices. What if the roles and purpose has been switch, does both of the parties are contented with the results of escaping from something they have always wanted? The consequences behold on their own actions and these technology devices consumes the life itself from time to time.
One of the artist residency named Jade actually give an opinion during the critic session about how these characters should have their own stories and how did they came alive etc, that actually gave me a big picture on how the storyboard should be constructed and what makes them special in a way that catches the attention of the audience. That actually helped me alot on reconstructing the ideas and the outcome of it. I do also added subtitles with the right material, sound caption for the video art since I find it aesthetical and helpful for the audience who have hearing issues.
With the help of Shakir for the installation of the artwork consist of two tv screen syncing along, the artwork was a great pull off for me even I was a little a bit disappointed with my own outcome but I did really enjoy with the process of creating this artwork. I would like to thank to Celina for always consulting and advice me to carry on with the video art I create. Thank you so much for the inspiration through our one to one meeting. And that is all for my fin of this artwork, I am still working on with my Master study in coursework of Fine Arts and Technology. I am still be doing research on escapism based of biography experience in video games and I would be moving on with tracking projection mapping art with other projects so on! Thank you everyone!
To artists who has always been doubting themselves about their art styles that keep evolving and weird from others, it’s okay to be different and from the result, it’ll make you feel special about yourself and you’ll grow with the art itself ! <3
