The project began with an interest in extreme behaviours, such
as hysteria and boredom. Both of these concepts are perceived as mental states
which are reflected upon and seen in a person's behaviour. They also are maladies
considered to be intrinsic to women.
Sigmund Freud's case study in hysteria: "Dora - An Analysis of a case of Hysteria"
has served as a loose background script for the piece.
The installation HAME [a dress] consists of two (sculptural) objects onto
which stereographic video is projected. An audio signal is heard from inside
of the objects and around them. The users can interact with the piece by wearing
one of three jackets that compose a crucial part of the work. Each one of
these jackets has a different function in the piece; forward-jacket, rewind-jacket
and repeat-jacket.
The video clips are short and minimalist. The movements in the images and
the continuous repeating of the clips are non-naturalistic and machine-like;
segmented, timed and rhythmic. The different functions of the jackets - forward/rewind/repeat
- also refer to machine-like functions. The aesthetics of the visuals and
sounds in the piece is purposely artificial. The images are highly manipulated
and the soundscape is entirely electronic and digital. Although the topic
of this installation is not technology-centered, the piece is and functions
like a machine. A machine which observes, a machine which sends signals and
data to other networked machines in the installation.
Credits:
Laura Beloff - Concept,Visuals
Maex Decker - Sounds, Audio Design
1999/2000
Robert Abt, Christopher Lindinger - Programming
Produced by Ars Electronica Center / Futurelab with the Pepinieres Artist-in-Residence
program
DPS Video cards provided by DPS
more on project at:
www.saunalahti.fi/~off/off/hame.html
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HAME |
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homepages at: |
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Laura Beloff and Maex Decker have collaborated since 1998
when they |