TERM 1 : Independent Project
Origins and Conception
Essay : Elucubrations on humanity
In second year, I wrote an essay about the current lack of tolerance in our society and specifically in my generation. Through writing it, I investigated to figure out where this phenomenon might be stemming from
I decided to look at different manifestations of social and cultural engagement striving for more tolerance
In second year, I wrote an essay about the current lack of tolerance in our society and specifically in my generation. Through writing it, I investigated to figure out where this phenomenon might be stemming from
SWIPE ME
The creation of Betty
The creation of Betty
Who Is Betty?
I decided to create a character that would represents all the sides of us that are never shown on social media. She would unapologetically incarnates our vulnerabilities and doubts, hoping to encourage people to do the same.
Why?
My hope was, once people realise that they are all more like each other and less like their online profile than they might think, it would become easier for them to identify to each other, to put themselves in other people's shoes and therefore become more tolerant.
How?
By collecting from strangers and friends stories that they wouldn't share on social media.
Betty's first manifestation
To collect stories, I set up a booth in the corridor of Central Saint Martins. People were asked to get inside the booth and make a video of themselves telling a personal story they wouldn't post on social media. Once they did, they could look through other people's video and perhaps find someone that was going through the same thing as them..
Click Here To Listen To Their Stories
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Later on, to lead people to the booth and encourage them to post, I put up a trail of photographs of Betty baring herself both physically and emotionally.
However, after I put them up, I started receiving less videos. People would go in the booth and watch the videos, but wouldn't share stories anymore. I asked people and the main reason I found for it was that by putting up these intense photographs, I put too much pressure on the whole thing and made people uncomfortable with the idea of taking part.
Betty's second manifestation
After posting the pictures, I realised that I needed to get comfortable with divulging a lot about myself in the frame of my character Betty, I needed to get used to be on display and sharing personal things about myself.
Therefore, I applied for a piece in CSM Window Gallery during sustainability month.
I sat in the window several hours a day for a week, inventorying all of the objects I own but didn't need and putting them on display in the window. I set a box outside the window and asked people to leave something they didn't use that could be repurpose or given to someone who needed it.
The piece was somewhat of a success, I got a lot of attention and compliment, but very few donations.
This piece made me realised that it was much more difficult than I thought to get people involved.
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Betty's plan : The Lost Tales of Betty's Life
In parallel with all that, I started to wonder how I was going to share all of these stories I was collecting. I was really interested in immersive environments combined with live performance and how they could be used to discuss current issues.
I started thinking about creating an event in a house (Betty's house) where in each different room, a different topic (decided upon the stories I would collect) would be treated through art installation and live performance.
I really got into the idea, and started to think about how I could make this a viable practice, and who would be interested in funding such an experience.
I thought about fashion brands. How it could use the event to promote their brand's philosophy, get in direct contact with their clients (the audience) and show their line (costume design for the performers)
The first brand that came to my mind was TOPSHOP for their aesthetic and target audience.
I put together a proposal to send them and see if they were interested in taking part by helping me secure a location and providing clothing for the performers and the rest of the team working on the event.
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I also sent this proposal (edited to fit other briefs or agendas) to several other institutions or grants to increase my chances
SEED FUND UAL
MEAD SCHOLARSHIP
Bloomberg Philantropies
STAMP THEATRES (Fuel, Arts DEPOT, BAC, CPT roundhouse,...)
Most of these solicitations have stayed unanswered but the one that got back to me saying they were interested all wanted to be invited to a "first try" before committing to anything.
I decided to host an "in progress" "in between" type of event during the second therm and invite (over and over again, as another thing I've learned through this process is that you almost need to harass people - phone and in person much more efficient than e-mail- to get their attention) potential sponsors