Gaps 3 [no words] Second Half
Moving Image // 2017
Sarah’s work can be evocative and suggestive but it mainly lies in the intimate, focusing on the relationship we have with our own use of language, on the moments when we experience its limits, whether it be through forgetfulness, self-doubt, momentary blurring or simply trying to find the right words. The emotional and mental states this puts us in during these moments; nervous, uncomfortable, over-excited, fearful, reflective, thoughtful, confused, conflicted, doubtful, or being overwhelmed (either by good or bad) are exposing us and places us in a vulnerable position that we hope is missed or ignored when we move through conversation. Perhaps we don’t fully realise that we do it when in the moment, unless it is pointed out to us.
When a conversation ‘falters’ for a moment in the mind of the speaker, they may feel suddenly embarrassed, frustrated, and even vulnerable. Subconsciously these moments can be overwhelming due to the amount of information being received and the mind needs to refocus. For some this momentary pause could increase anxiety, a building of self pressure and then leading to more slippages. However these highlight the sheer magnitude of what’s occurring, the complexity of human social interaction, a game of connection through language, non-verbal vocalisation, and paralanguage - there is a beauty in it.
This particular piece was the turning point in Sarah’s artistic focus and trajectory of practice, stemming from her own experiences. There is a fear of rejection, being misunderstood in either what we want to share or feeling that this stuttering will reveal a part of ourselves we’d rather not want to be seen because ‘it only happens to us and not other people’. The link to clear speaking with no stumbling’s to be the ultimate as an example of one who is confident and of higher intelligence isn’t realistically possible for any prolonged length of time and in every context. We want positive response but fear negative ones based on past experiences.
What we witness then is a documented retrospective, presented in minimal fashion, of her own unintended verbal errors/slippages in action and an example of how these ‘unwanted’ occurrences, as we process our thoughts, is natural and a normal byproduct of our human nature.
Gaps 3 [no words] Second Half
Moving Image // 2017
This subject, herself, begins a little blurred…
Gaps 3 [no words] 27/02/17
Second Half
Subject - unspecified