Perception of
Identity through a Visual Culture
Identity is realized through the contextual framework of oneself in an environment. Environments consist of people, objects, spaces, structures, and an acquired perception of how each of these elements functions within that environment. Recent artistic perspectives include technology as a means of establishing identity, resulting in identities that rely less on the physical
body and more on psychological interpretation as the construction of identity.
Elizabeth Diller and Ricardo Scofidio have raised many questions through their work surrounding one's identity among other identities. Their
piece The American Lawn: Surface of Everyday Life explores ecological, social, historical and architectural issues surrounding the suburban lawn. Dozens of stereoscopic images present these lawns as boundaries between homes. The lawns are treated with different maintenance, different ornaments, and different landscape approaches. These differences create a boundary between one home and its neighbor, causing the homes to command their own individual
presence.
The work of Ann Lislegaard uses sound to recontextualize the presence of the
viewer. Her
Corner Piece consists of two empty walls that form a corner. As the viewer stands in this corner, a feminine
voice whispers things like "she's looking toward me". There is a feeling of paranoia and curiosity as the viewer questions the presence of the voice coming from behind the walls. At the same time, light glows on and off emphasizing the voice's life. One becomes unsure how they should react to the situation and how their presence is realized.
Bodies,Inc. by Victoria Vesna creates a fictitious society where the people are created and controlled through positive relationships within a corporate structure. A theoretical body is contemplated, and is only built when its member (the thought behind the body) has accumulated 400 points. Points are received through acts like offering quotes from dead philosophers to the society. Once the member has built its body, it is restricted to certain tasks. Eventually after enough points are accumulated, the body is presented in "Showplace" alongside other bodies that have attained such stature. There is a sense of frustration as the member wants to do things but is limited to the constraints of the body within this society. This piece also speaks strongly for the creation of a cyber identity where thoughts are generated through one’s brain but the presence of the physical body does not inform the member’s identity.
Forcing the reinterpretation of one’s identity is a crucial part of each of these works. The identities become individual through the definition of their contexts. Viewers are creating, controlling and conceding to their perceived identity as the work is experienced.
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