This is the installation piece I contributed to the “Allow me to re-introduce myself” exhibition that I co-curated with my friend and artist Ali Al Sharji, the exhibition was a rebellion against the predetermined pre approved forms of art that the few galleries in the Capital city of Oman, Muscat allowed to present. Censorship and an overall limited ideology of what constitutes as art was the driving force behind this exhibition and we were able to collect a diverse group of incredible artists to showcase their work and this was my contribution.
*Headphones or noise-cancelling earbuds are required to fully immerse yourself in the experience.
The location of the entrance to my exhibit within the gallery was in an inconspicuous place, if you weren’t curious to see if there was more you wouldn’t find it. Hidden behind a curtain you were greeted with a long narrow corridor lit up in red at the end of the corridor was a door into a small dark room with no windows. in the center of the room was an arm chair. Facing the arm chair at an angle to the right a long mirror, and opposite that behind the armchair, at angle to the left, another mirror. A single lamp lights up the room. A notebook, pen, phone and headphones are placed on the side table by the arm chair. The room appears to be some kind of office, but there is no desk, maybe a library, but there are not enough books. Only one way in, and one way out.
The experience was designed to replicate going inwards, out here in the physical world. The door to self knowledge exists if you only look for it, the path inward is eerie and uncomfortable, and when you get “there”, you have the opportunity to look at the things you’ve collected, what significance they play in your life. You are invited to take a seat with whatever comes up. The mirrors forcing you to see yourself as you experience yourself. I wanted to subconsciously prepare the audience for the audio they were about to experience. The intimacy of it. The isolation of it. That required them to go on the journey inward, whether they realized it or not. I wanted to highlight the discomfort of seeing yourself from an angle you’ve not seen before. I wanted to encourage self reflection but also showcase that my feelings are not unique to me, and that maybe by being vulnerable, they would feel safe enough to be vulnerable too.
I decided to incorporate the notebook so that I could find out what the audience felt or thought as they experienced my thoughts in that environment. Did they connect to it or was it completely alien? I personally find it easier to write my thoughts when I want to express myself vulnerably and so I thought, why not extend that to others. I wanted to give the audience an opportunity to go on their own journey of reflection. whether it be about the experience itself or their own experiences and a safe space to express themselves openly. What I found, was so human. In a place where people are so used to being within a tight knit community there was a need for connection, a want to be seen, a desire to be heard. Not to mention a surprise at how similar we are, that we are not alone in our feelings. As well as loving and encouraging words to strangers.
