• Home
  • PERFORMANCE
  • VIDEO/INSTALLATIONS
  • OBJECTS
  • CARTOGRAPHIES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
  • LINKS

Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Panopticon (2009)

pan-0014
Top: Installation view (front)

Date: 2009
Medium: Installation: Video projection on mounds of salt, glass
Sizes: 125 x 200 x 45 cm (approx)

For this project I thought specifically about the notion of distance, of looking outward into space as a means of establishing a provisional locus. The exteriority of this locus is questioned and rendered ambivalent through the disappearing body: the gaping wound that makes of Saint Thomas a believer in a transcendent body.On an obvious level the work refers to the sufferers of stigmata, the ecstatics who experience the divine in the flesh through the appearance of wounds/ marks on their hands, feet, side, or brow – the marks of the Passion of Christ with corresponding and intense psychological an physical suffering. In ‘Panopticon’, salt is substituted for blood, perhaps referring to the healing properties of salt as an antiseptic material but also playing with the idea of ‘rubbing salt in ones wounds’, thus compounding the agony of one who has already suffered injury.

Video still from Panopticon (2009)

Video still from Panopticon (2009)

In ‘Panopticon’ the viewer of the artwork is ultimately positioned as an integral part of the work itself, taking the place of St Thomas and the desire inherent in his request to become ‘witness’ to the wounds of Jesus. Of course, given the title of the piece, relations of power are inherent in this exchange.

pan002
Top: Installation view (side)

St FrAncIs Of AssIsI (1186 – 1226) St LUtgArdE (1182 – 1246) St MArgArEt of COrtOnA (1247 – 97) St GErtrUdE (1256 – 1302) St ClArE Of MOntEfAlcO (1268 – 1308) St AngElA of FOlIgnO (d. 1309) St CAthErInE Of SIEnA (1347 – 80) St LIdwInE (1380 – 1433) St FrAncEs of ROmE (1384 – 1440) St COlEttE (1380 – 1447) St RItA of CAssIA (1386 – 1456) Bl OsAnnA of MAntUA (1499 – 1505) St CAthErInE of GEnOA (1447 – 1510) Bl BAptIstA VArAnI (1458 – 1524) Bl LUcy Of NArnI (1476 – 1547) Bl CAthErInE of RAccOnIgI (1486 – 1547) St JOhn of GOd (1495 – 1550) St.CAthErInE dE’ RIccI (1522 – 89) St MArY MAgdAlEnE dE’ PAzzI (1566 – 1607) Bl MArIE dE l’IncArnAtIOn (1566 – 1618) Bl MAry AnnE of JEsUs (1557 – 1620) Bl CArlO of SEzzE (d. 1670) BlEssEd MArgArEt MAry AlAcOqUE (1647 – 90) St VErOnIcA GIUlIAnI (1600 – 1727) St MAry FrAncEs Of thE FIvE WOUnds (1715 – 91) CAthErinE EmmErIch (1774 – 1824) ElIzAbEth CAnOrI MOrA (1774 – 1825) AnnA MAriA TAIgI (1769 – 1837) MArIA DOmInIcA LAzzArI (1815 – 48) MArIE dE MOErl (1812 – 68) LOUIsE LAtEAU (1850 – 83)

The work ‘Panopticon’ was made with technical assistance by Justus De Jager, Director of Photography. Please visit: http://justusdejager.com/Home.html

Comments Off

  • Archives

  • Pages

    • PERFORMANCE
      • ProSpecter (2010)
      • Vox Populis/ Vox Dei (2008/9)
      • Come in peace/ Go to pieces (2008)
      • Exodus (2008)
      • Traffic (2008)
      • Twilight (2008)
      • The Theory of Gravity (2006)
      • Outpost Series (2004-6)
      • Bind/Ontbind Series (2003)
      • Untitled performance from the Minotaur Series (2004)
      • Other performances
    • VIDEO/INSTALLATIONS
      • Blood Rites (2010)
      • Illuminaton(2010)
      • Panopticon (2009)
      • Outpost 4 (2008)
      • Challenging Mud (After Kazuo Shiraga) (2008)
      • The Theory of Displacement (2008)
      • The Ascension (2007)
      • Terms of endearment (2007)
      • Birth of a Tyrant (2007)
      • The Theory of Flight (2006)
      • The Theory of Evolution (2006)
      • The Minotaur Series 12 (2005)
      • The Labyrinth (2004)
      • Violence and Happiness (2003)
      • The Pencil Test Series (2003)
    • OBJECTS
      • A murder of text (2009)
      • Vessel 1-Perfect Lovers (2009)
      • Looking for Lucy (2007)
      • The OK Revolution (2007)
      • Molotovmammas (2007)
      • The Theory of Labour (2006)
      • words oft error (2005)
      • I am no-one (2001-2)
    • CARTOGRAPHIES
    • ABOUT
      • Press
      • Shortened CV
      • Interviews
        • Interview with Carine Zaayman (2003)
        • Interview with David Koloane (2007)
        • Interview with Peter Machen (2008)
        • Interview with Willem Boshoff (2006)
        • Johan Thom interviewed by Sarah Claire Picton (2009)
        • Radio Papesse Interview as part of ‘.za: Young Art From South Africa’ (2008)
      • Authored
        • Kendell Geers at the Steven Friedman, London
        • Life intimidating art, The Diplomat, Sept/Oct 2007
        • The sleeping monster produces reasons : Diane Victor
        • Taming the Trojan Horse: Disarming the Politics of Otherness in a Postcolonial (African) Context
    • CONTACT
    • LINKS

Blog at WordPress.com.

Theme: Mistylook by Sadish.