MY NEED FOR GLORY , RECOGNITION & VALIDATION

2024
1920x1080 video, 1 minute.

Research-based, critical, installation, 3D printing, film, video-editing.
TEAM
Siddhant Vernekar
Oliver Hatfield (3D scan + modelling)

During my MA, in our first study module called Process, we were asked to 1. investigate our own process of creating and making art, 2. extract an observation from it and 3. make a design artefact based on that observation. Some of the questions we dwelled upon were -

"How do I create?",
"What is my process?",
"What are some of my positive and negative traits and tendencies?"

While asking myself these questions I asked myself "Why do I create?" This question led me to a psychological deep-dive which eventually led me to the slightly uncomfortable realisation that 'my incessant need for glory, validation and recognition' is my biggest motivation to create.

In order to give this realisation a physical form, I decided to choose a medium I hadn't worked with before, so I 3D scanned my head and torso and 3D printed a Greco-Roman style bust of myself. This bust signifies the legend that I see myself as, in my head.

For the second aspect of the artefact, I went around my university campus and asked students, faculty and staff (around 31 people) to applaud for me, 'collected' their applause in video form and showered (projected) it onto my bust. This coming together of 3D sculpture and video is what formed the final artefact.

The aim of the project was to:

a. understand my own motivations to create art and be more honest about it,
b. challenge the mainstream hypocrisy that propagates the righteous notion that art and creativity should only be pursued ‘purely for the joy of it’,
c. I wanted it to be self-deprecating, funny and wanted my design artefact to highlight the meaningless and the stupidity of it all and
d. serve as a medium for other artists and creative people to ponder and question their own motivations for creating art.

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