 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
CITY ART GALLERY & MUSEUM
- Peace Talks by Paul Sermon
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Print Loan Service | |
| How to Find Us | |
| Opening Times | |
| Home Page | |
|
|
|
||
However, as one of the
performers moves around they appear to change scale due to an optical
illusion reminiscent of Ames' famous distorted room experiment. Moreover,
in wearing video display glasses, each user's perception of their
physical presence is severely hampered as each relies upon the 'eyes
of the camera' to guide their movement. The illusion concludes when
the performers relocate to a formal peace talks room, complete with
round table, national insignia, papers of declaration and microphones.
Sermon explains, "Peace Talks serves to ridicule the absurdity of
a peace talk charade, whilst simultaneously offering a tongue in cheek,
yet very viable alternative." 
Background - In 1992 Paul Sermon produced Telematic Dreaming,
a deceptively simple work in which two users - located in two separate
rooms - appear, on screen, to lay together on the same bed. This piece,
widely shown, internationally, has continued to engage the artist
both practically and intellectually; its straightforward approach
having been enriched by subsequent technological developments. However,
Sermon's art is not determined solely by technological advancements.
Over the last decade he has continued exploring the artistic potential
of telematics to investigate new forms of consciousness. "The bodily
form encapsulates our consciousness. I believe it is possible to extend
our consciousness beyond it, as in a telephone conversation or e-mail
message, but we are a long way off the conception of it. The bodily
form as a signifier is still necessary to identify and locate our
consciousness at a distance. Therefore I am not concerned with escaping
my form, but rather to look back and observe it at a distance from
the outside."
Quote - "Just because language dictates that we touch with
our hands and see with our eyes doesn't mean that's all. It's absolutely
conceivable that we can also see with our hands and touch with our
eyes in just the same way; its a matter of manipulation and definition."
BiographyBorn: Oxford Lives: Manchester Studied: Fine Art, Newport School of Fine Art, MFA Master of Fine Arts, Reading. Recent exhibitions: 2003, The Tables Turned - Three Ways, The ZKM Centre for Art and Media Karlsruhe, Germany, The Virreina Palace, Barcelona, The Institute of Culture Madrid, Spain. http://on1.zkm.de/zkm/werke/TheTablesTurned 2001- 2002 Telematic Vision, exhibited inTelematic Connections: The Virtual Embrace, touring USA. http://telematic.walkerart.org/telereal/sermon_index.html 2000- 2001 Telematic Vision, Millennium Dome UK, London ,http://www.landdesignstudio.co.uk
Influences - When thinking about this "Peace Talks" project specifically,
my influences are my concerns about the anxiety I feel from the global
paranoia that currently resonates through our culture. Personally
I feel it would be senseless to concern my artwork with anything other
than the political madness around me.
Why do you make art? - Producing a successful succinct piece of
art is the most elating experience I have ever had - this is simply
what makes me want to produce more work. Unfortunately an unsuccessful
work has completely the opposite effect - an experience that every
artist is familiar with. |
||
|
|
||
|
Further information
|
Paul Sermon |
| www.paulsermon.org |
|
|
| Gallery Plan |