The Pessimists
“The Pessimists” invites a contemplation of the invisible forces that police the behavior of people; the "pessimists" control one another by planting doubt, worry, and fear, gestures that often engender stagnation. The perpetuation of behavioral norms relies on those policing virtue via their agents; the family and friends of one's inner circle each have a role to play.
“Sissy My Playmate; Sissy My Enemy; Hand-Check-Slap”
2009, Digital Archival prints on Silver Rag
CHICKEN
SISSY
CHICKEN, video, 6min10sec (w/sound), 2009
SISSY, video, 1min 40sec (w/sound), 2010
"CHICKEN" and "SISSY" depict two bodies standing opposite each other, first in friendly negotiations, then intimidation, and finally, oppressive violence. The bodies cycle through childhood games, recalling and repeating the power dynamics of the strong and the weak; they pattern behavior in conflict escalation.
SWEEP
"SWEEP" depicts the female protagonist sweeping her own footsteps in a barren desert. While no other subject is physically present to suppress her movement, the woman, dressed in traditional Arab clothing, frantically works to remove her presence from the landscape. The performance suggests that the power of control is internalized, and even when alone, paranoia and fear dictate the actions of the individual who has been systematically trained to erase their identity and being.