My trip to the ICA

The anticipation of seeing works of an artist observed in one of our lectures made me feel like there was a direct purpose in this trip. I like documentaries, so there was a compelling factor to see work of someone I have observed and discussed in class. On the ­­fourth floor of the ICA, at the entrance of the gallery, my attention was captured by the sounds of a separate installation. I took one step into the installation and I was quickly inspired by the work of Krzysztof Wodiczko’s film; “…out of here:” The Veterans Project was an experience, a story, an aesthetic decision in how the televisions were arranged (at the top-fourth section of three sides of the space, and across the perimeter of the said three sides in the space). The film, as I experienced it, allowed a type of instant connection to the echoes in this film - meanwhile one of the several screens, feeds images, sometimes almost simultaneously I think… But because the film kept me in a constant-suspended state, in a kind of ‘idle’, piecing sounds in a visual and progressive interpretation, while anticipating the next sound, or sets of images, I was also in a state of complete alertness; I’m sure the types of sounds were a direct effect of feeling alert and perhaps, the raw intent and purpose other than the message(s) of language communication…

The activity in continuing sequence of the film through different screens (a back and forth effect), depending on a specific time in the films sequence, I felt that it contained sounds that I call raw commotion (as in a very warm and live, and a very real thing depicting a molecule at the top of the iceberg – as far as uncomfortable raw truths go), and the portrayal of confusion and danger, caused me as an observer, to develop this visual interpretation – it felt like I was almost there in front of them; if you can imagine that. Consistent listening and scanning about the space, to avoid missing a beat, and the orientation of my head focused upward at the screens’ physical locations, was the trick that did it for me. If I closed my eyes, or if I kept them wide open, I could envision soldiers approaching and area where they are encountered by townspeople, so it seems, but who knows... I was so almost there, I definitely had an opinion and strong feeling in direct dialogue with the film; if I was faced to pick between rescuing and not rescuing an injured child, I would definitely try to save the little guy – it’s the only humane fucking thing to do, so I was pissed off immediately, but kudos to Krzysztof Wodiczko. It was in the first moments of the installation that I began to enjoy the experience - and a story unfolded and I was still having a moving feeling after I had walked out of the installation. After experiencing this, waves, water and concepts about water seemed uninteresting for me.