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Video:

Xuan V.S Adam

1.http://youtu.be/dG1HdAPFbmA

2.http://youtu.be/GdDpRh1pAYk

3.http://youtu.be/iMIbH-a_50g

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 Artist statements

    I was really enjoyed reading Yoko Ono’s Grapefruit. It was an art work as well as instructions to me.

 

    Once me and my boyfriend was reading PULSE PIECE: Listen to each other’s pulse by putting your ear on the other’s stomach. He suddenly put his head on my stomach and listened to it. I realized that this piece can only be executed by people with very intimate relationship, usually couples, or best girl-friends, because it requires touch on a very sensitive body area – stomach. Animals will only let you touch their stomach when they trust you, the same as human being.

 

    My idea was first constrained by that, I was focusing on the intimacy of people. But later I realized it was not easy to do an intimate game at school, especially it should happen under my observation. Therefore I decided to design a score that could play between people with normal relationship, even strangers.

   

    So where did the idea come from? Actually it comes from three parts:

 

a) A true story of my dating…

    When I was first dating with my boyfriend, he said: “You are so shy. You don’t even dare to look into my eyes.”

 

    Reluctantly I have to admit that I really don’t dare to look into a stranger’s eyes. I guess most people have the same problem.

 

b) Marina Abramovic’s work at MOMA, NYC.

    Marina Abramović: The Artist Is Present is a performance that touched me very much. Marina was sitting alone, people sat down to look into her eyes, most of them cried after a certain time. I watched the video online, even I was not there, it was just still irresistible to cry when I look into her eyes. Especially when she looked at Ulay, so many emotions and feelings were contained in her eyes and tears.

 

c) My experience in Dragon Con.

    In Dragon Con, Adam gave me a black mask and I wear it on. It was an amazing experience. As soon as I put it on, I began dare enough to look around and stare at people for a look time, sometimes even look into their eyes.

    I felt myself comfortable and confidence to observe people; because I know they couldn’t see me. I was acting as another character of me, braver, more curiosity. I feel myself invisible.

 

    So I came through a conclusion: masks bring people a kind of safety, especially when they are communicating to each other. They feel they are protected by the mask when they are behind it.

 

    But then an absurd idea comes to my mind: What if the mask is transparent? What if it is actually not hiding anything for you? Then what is protecting you?

 

    In Pearce’s notes, she mentioned: The making of FluxKits and FluxGames was itself a kind of game: create play patterns from found, e.g., “readymade” objects; create kits that can be reproduced easily and sold cheaply. (Pearce 72)

   

    I decided to utilize mask as a metaphor, but it is so unique that I couldn’t find any readymade transparent mask and I had to make one by myself.  I use a film to fold a mask, because it was an easy-made craftsmanship, and anyone who is interested can easily reproduce one by himself.

 

    This mask is a metaphor. It is a shield of protecting, but since it is blank, it is not protecting anything physically. I choose the bunny face because bunny is a harmless symbol, but some people regard it as a sign of Playboy. At least it makes people have the consciousness of doing role play, but what role should he play? It’s a transparent mask, so it seems that one can only play a role as himself when he wears it on.

 

    Friedman mentioned scores is something that “can be realized in everyday situation as well as in performance, emphasizing the unity of art and life” (Friedman, 52). So I observed people and found that most things they done when they are together were —- talking.

 

    I asked myself, what’s the difference between talking without a mask or with a mask? It is blank; it doesn’t change your view or anything. But it does change the feeling of the conversation itself. I want to see if people change their attitudes when they are on a mask.

 

    I did the play testing with Xuan—one of my Chinese friend and Adam. They never met before and the game worked. First it was not easy to keep serious, because they just keep laughing when they stared at each other without a mask. With the mask on, Xuan began to stay calm because she felt she was protected, or behind something. Gradually they were familiar with each other’s face and they started to chat. At the end of this game, they became friends.

 

    I don’t know whether this is a Fluxes game or not. I just think that when people are wearing a mask of “nothing”, they still feel comfortable and lessen their nervous when they are facing strangers.

At the end of the statement I should bring up my questions again:

People feel safe when they are behind a mask.

But it is a transparent mask.

If it helps,

What is actually protecting you?