Researching the newest technology with brain cancer technology, I’ve been thinking of using my fathers brain scans as a 3D Animation. On the one hand, showcasing the newest technology being used for cancer treatment, on the other hand considering the scans as a starting point for a piece of art, fitting into the landscape of abstraction of my installation.
Visuals
My childhood pictures tie together the exhibition and are one of the most challenging parts of the work. Following the two video installations name “Between the probes” and “Under the microscope”, my idea is to bleach the photographic film with detergent and lemon juice to receive a “microscopic” look. Hence, I have been inspired by Ajay Malghans photo series:
https://www.wired.com/2014/08/ajay-malghan-bleached/?mbid=social_twitter#slide-id-1352881
Ideally, I will be able to film the bleaching process like a memory that is fading away and edit it into the first video installation “Between the probes”. Herefore, I am planning to use reversal film to immediately being able to get the positive image. The name of the first video installation “Between the probes” is derived from the treatment my father underwent the so called PDT where the patient has to drink a red liquid that illuminates the cancer cells (Hereby I decided to use redscale film coating the pictures in a red orange tone) Afterwards the tumor is being burnt by reflection and heat by three probes that get inserted into the skull.
Sound by Giuseppe
Following the short video performance by the artist Laura Heiss, I am creating an ambient soundtrack parallel to the visual input, a soundscape concordant in materials and feeling with the work. In order to achieve such results, I am using elements of different origin, operating in a new contest in order to find an innovative meaning.
Although I have experimented with fundamental pieces of matter, the main combination which I found myself most satisfied with was glass, wind and water.
Diary of "Tissue"
Two years ago my father died of a brain tumour. He had fought the disease for two years. The most innovative treatments and best medical medical care available had helped him to expand his life expectancy after the initial diagnosis. After I found out that his doctor had retired, I felt the urge to hold onto the latest scientific knowledge and therapies that gave us hope until the last moment. Some of the therapies were only ever conducted with him and haven’t been applied ever since in his department. I’ve been told there is only one hospital in Germany now applying this method, the so called PDT. On the other hand, I felt that I had found a way to express my grief through artistic processing of images. From the very beginning, I’ve imagined my project as an experiment and a search exploring the limitations of images and sound . How do I give (my) pain a new expression? What remains, what's fading away when remembering my father? How do I process certain terms that I derive from the treatment of brain tumors and bring them into tension between art and science (e.g. reflection)? What is art? What is science? How does matter change when exposed to the extreme, such as heat or acids? “Tissue” is an experiment at reconstruction.
The exhibition will consist of two video installations. A three channel installation “Between the probes” and a two channel installation “Under the microscope”.
Happy birthday Travesura!
The kindergarten Travesura, located in the neighbourhood of Independencia, is celebrating its 10 years anniversary this year. Even though it is a success now, it has been a long way to get here: “When we started building this place we had one classroom and the kitchen, nothing else.”
Lorena the founder of the kindergarten welcomes us on a grey monday morning with a big smile on her face offering us some mate. While we sit down and share some mate with her, she starts telling us about the many challenges of her country and the construction of Travesura. Thanks to many volunteers from all over the world she has been able to pull this ambitious project off and give the children from this deprived neighbourhood a safe space. “ (here) they can feel comfortable and see it as a place where they can be happy, meet new friends and learn in a safe way.” However, she also mentions the lack of empathy in Argentinian society which is steadily increasing in her opinion. “People here lose trust in any kind of institution.”