In the outer suburbs of Sydney, like many suburbs around the world, plasma TV screens and celebrity-oriented TV and publicity are an accepted part of daily life. Loved and hated, these mediums have an important impact on their viewers; on their attitudes and clothes, their mannerisms, their habits, and in the formation of their desires and their dreams.
A phenomenon results, that becomes greater, and deeper, than a simple reflection of styles and aesthetics. A consequence of passive longing and dissatisfaction, promoting the need for self-verification, a desire to ‘be someone’. The Gaze is an exploration of this desire to be famous.
In this critical artwork, a young man gazes at an image of himself on the TV. He becomes obsessed with the image. His gesture is passive and idle, he wants only to see his own reflection on this electronic mirror. If we watch him, or stand in the way of his gaze, he becomes upset. We disturb his view. We can join him however, and we, the viewers, can observe the object of our gaze, with the subject of the artwork, together on the TV screen.
This desire has thus brought full circle the subject of our attentions away from ourselves and each other, towards a copy of ourselves and the artwork.
Special thanks to Ardrian Hardjono (software developer), Saman Jebelijavan (sound artist) and Josh Carter (actor).
Also for the support and TLC of Balint Seeber.
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