Victor Donker, Ola Wronska, Youhong Peng, Wentin Du, Yudan Ma
Drama:
Numerous inputs form who we are and what is our identity. Human personality and character is constantly influenced by external inputs such as society, living environment or trends. Trying to keep up with current world is a never ending race that requires people to change their behavior and values. Such changes form a brand new identity – a picture of who (we think) we are. We lose at the same time the sight of our “real self”.
Story:
Sigmund Floyd’s theories about id, ego and superego define seven human vices: pride, greed, gluttony, wrath, lust, sloth and envy. Those vices are a part of every human identity. They have a major influence on who we are and what we do.
Different elements/symbols can represent human vices. By selecting elements that we like the most, we build our desired identity. The more elements we get on our body the more blurry becomes our real identity. Finally, it disappears under the images and representations of seven vices. Once the body is filled and there is no more space, we get the chance to see the person underneath again, finding out that we are who we are and not what we desire.
Production&Interaction:
It’s time to compare a picture of who (we think) we are with who we really are and realize that underneath our desires and vices there is already a strong identity.
This is an interactive installation combined with performance art. Interaction consists out of seven steps. Each step for one vice. Viewer stands in front of the projection which is divided into three sections. Section in the middle is a shadow reflection of the viewer. Sections on the sides contain images and representations of a single vice. Viewer can drag images using hands of a single vice onto his/her own body (shadow reflection on the screen). Viewer can choose to pick one image, multiple images or none. By taking step forward, the images on the sides change to visualize next vice. Viewer can choose and drag images again. All previously dragged images stick to viewers’ body and follow him along. By repeating the process seven times, viewer gets closer to the screen and finally reaches the last step. His body is now filled with many symbols and images. During the last step viewer finds out two mirrors on both sides of the installation. He can compare now his own reflection with his shadow reflection covered with different desires. It is a time for reflection and comparison of who (we think) we are and who we really are.