Immersion as Immanence
Immersion Immersive, 2006, pp. 31-46
Susie Major reflects on the notion of the immersive art experience in contemporary art practice within the context of Articule Montreal's. 2006 show Immersion Immersive. Through examining the work of Carline Lathan-Stiefel, Michelle Gay, Demian Petryshyn and Luis Jacob, Major identifies the role of the artist, spectator, and body within each of the works:
Stiefel's Whorl makes the viewer aware of their own body and their body within a space, as well as the process of actualizing a 2d concept into a 3d plane. Michelle Gay's Stretchpoem allows (but does not depend upon) the viewer's impulses to create abstract poetry and collections of words using technology as a sort of conduit to immerse oneself in the work. Petryshyn' s Battle of Kashyyyk addresses the desire to embody oneself in the virtual world, and the sacrifices of the real that accompany such an immersion. Finally, Luis Jacob addresses immersion not as a sculptural or technological facet of art, but rather a communal one, featuring documentation of performances in which works were created entirely by large groups and staging pot-luck art openings.
ITEM 2006.116 – available for viewing in the Research Centre
Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited
Whorl – Caroline Lathan-Stiefel
Stretchpoem – Michelle Gay
The Battle of Kashyyyk – Demian Petryshyn
Open Your Mouth and Your Mind Will Follow – Luis Jacob
Anarchist Sandwich Party; Bloor/Danforth Subways, Toronto #1-5 – Luis Jacob
Album IV – Luis Jacob