how i got here

The following images were part of the basis for this idea. It probably started around the time that a friend of mine, who was in her final year of performance studies, was creating an installation based on video works that we worked on together, including an animation from an earlier post. Although the themes are quite different, I can see the link, or perhaps development of this idea from then until now. I was particularly interested in the viewer, identity, and screen-based media.



Next up was when my sister and I were watching the sunset. Only we weren't really watching it, just shooting it until it lost its attractiveness.



The next time was when I was checking out the ruins of Angkor. One of the sites had just wrapped up filming a Thai film. A young local was obviously influenced. It stood out only because the clichéd realisation that we all know but begin to really get when we travel... that life, when simple, and with limited resources, often appears much more relaxed and content. So it can be kind of confusing when you see the locals desiring the alternative western consumer driven culture.



And then, tourism/the veiwer/photography/location (where are you?). At the summit of a small mountain overlooking Angkor Wat for sunset, the amount of people, the chaotic search for the best view, and the amount of cameras, really just blew me away. That was for me, much more captivating than the sunset.




I'm just as bad. Especially as a tourist. At least most people only get their cameras out at the same time as everyone else. Inconspicuousness, not always my thing. I got a bit over excited when I found a Borders in Kuala Lumpur. And, even better, the Borders had an Apple store in it. The sales guy was taking our photo in PhotoBooth, of which I was taking photo's, of myself, with a fake Parisian background. So perhaps even when we're escaping, we're still escaping. To simplify.

last minute for all the world to see

So I guess being someone who unintentionally seems to thrive on the last minute I probably shouldn't be admitting to it here, since I am likely to use this blog as evidence of research/idea development/inspirations, just like the title suggests. I'm supposed to be selling myself here... but I appreciate honesty more, especially when it comes to creating art.
*Sidenote: Tonight on Triple J, John Safran was talking about how he can't lie. But it's not based on morals, its just because he's bad at it. Which, in a way, makes him even worse than those who lie, because he's only not doing it to protect himself... but yeah, he said it better.

Anyway, to help me work it out, the following is what I need to finish by Tuesday evening at the latest (to present in reviews for the rest of the week):

- prepare images for printing (much more time-consuming than it sounds).
- printing... in the digital darkroom, for the first time... scary.
- artist's statement.
- annotated bibliography.
- project proposal with timeline and budget.

Big things, little time. Once again, I wish I could've finalised the actual idea process earlier and I'd be right on top of all this! But I really think that's the hardest part. So I'm glad that's over. But now I have to transfer it from my brain into comprehensible writing and speaking... so I better get some sleep to recharge (I haven't yet changed the time settings for the blog; it's currently 5:45am).
*Omg... I forgot it's still daylight savings. That's one less hour of sleep :(