I did mean to try and post something daily, but that quickly seemed redundant. I wanted to make this response to this shift in the global population in a more creative way; so I have been making much work in my studio away from studio… which is, of course, my studio.
So, here is Volume 1 of the Covidic Diary XIX. I have started a second volume as my sound has changed with my new gear set-up, expect some changes.
Imagine.
All the people who are now working from their home, getting used to it actually finding it is better than going to a stuffy ventilated office.
All the children home from day care and school, still engaged with learning and doing it in their education. Finding they learn better away from that often stressful environment.
All these families at home, working, learning and realizing that they can live their life this way. Not just live it, but enjoy a better quality of life.
When this is all done, how many will prefer the present arrangement to the former? Employers will also realize that the work gets done, done well; without a physical building to house the workers.
The buildings are soon vacant, and the economy seems to be doing fine with an evolved level of transaction. Clear thinking folk use the buildings for low and mid income housing, revitalizing our communities and making them a better place to live for everyone.
Can a virus do this? Why not, no one else seems to be able to.
Death, why are we so surprised by it? Why do we so fear it?
Really, it is as inevitable as the sun rising in the morning and we certainly don’t fear that. There are very few things in life that are completely reliable, sunrises, sunsets and death are among them.
Why be surprised?
We are facing a tiny little microscopic invader, well suited to their task and firm in their goal. We cannot see them, and we are most probably too big for them to see either.
Our life, as it is, created this particular event. Not COVID XIX.
This self imposed exile is not at all difficult, I hope more take this time to look inward and then outward and then think about their next social interaction… HONESTLY.
This is work I abandoned in 1986, a dismal MFA critique and a long road to wanting to find the energy source of this work. So now, I am coming back to it, I don’t think I got got to where I wanted to. A spiffy new camera makes it very easy to work in the dark with a flashlight and a 25 year old Metz flash.
Is it about anything? Good question…. The mechanical permutations of the body have always fascinated me. How can we shape-shift ourselves into another dimension of existence? Is this not where the collective consciousness becomes visible?
Swan is a reference to the long languorous journey that is “A la rechèrche du temps perdu”, still reading it… been reading it for almost 20 years, there are tedious moments.