SEPIIDAE
December 2010
32:00 Fountain Art Fair Miami Miami, Florida + latex + sea water + plastic tubing |
STATEMENT
Sepiidae illustrates my steady concern for humanity’s domination over our delicate ecosystem. During this performance, I take the role of a conflicted, anonymous female. Although aware of their reproductive purpose, the figure prematurely releases the eggs from their plastic wombs to reform the function of each sac. The sacs become ornamental and instrumental within a small assembly line. Once a self sustaining product is created and utilized, the objects are simply discarded and left to further ruin. Jeremy Bentham’s properties of utility are tested throughout the performance.This exploration tests intensity, duration, certainty, fertility, extent, propinquity and purity. Ironically, Bentham concluded that “Nature has placed mankind under the governance of two sovereign masters, pain and pleasure,” yet utilitarianism has evolved to demonstrate that Mankind has placed nature under governance. |
images courtesy of Kara Rooney
ACTIONS
Approach nesting site. Grab plastic bags with teeth and carry towards latex basin. Tear holes in egg sacs to string on plastic tubing. Thread sacs. Siphon sea water from latex basin. Expel water into wine glass. Repeat until glass is full. Sacrifice one latex sac by ripping it to shreds. Put shreds in glass. Drink liquid contents. Wrap self in egg sac strand and wander around festival.
Approach nesting site. Grab plastic bags with teeth and carry towards latex basin. Tear holes in egg sacs to string on plastic tubing. Thread sacs. Siphon sea water from latex basin. Expel water into wine glass. Repeat until glass is full. Sacrifice one latex sac by ripping it to shreds. Put shreds in glass. Drink liquid contents. Wrap self in egg sac strand and wander around festival.