Double Flame Exhibition, 2001
Cranbrook Art Academy Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
Double Flame, 2001
Lenticular Print
“Double Flame” by Octavio Paz, muses “The double face of eroticism - fascination with both life and death...” My interpretation of double flame is the duality of life and afterlife; and those precious moments that they might overlap.
“Double Flame” is a 3D lenticular print that composes Buddha and a Detroit Muscle Car - 1970 Dodge Charger. You may have seen rulers or key chains that seems to flash two images “simultaneously”. It was the perfect metaphor for ”double flame”.
Lenticular images are digital files that have been specially prepared and then printed onto a lens material. This material is a special plastic made up of lenticules, referring to the eye's lens and they’re shaped like lentils, therefore the name lenticular printing. The image, viewed through the lenticules, appears to move as it is turned creating dramatic flickering between 2 images or animation.
Infinity, 2001
Aluminum Cans
“Infinity” was a piece I wanted to think about as a print and as multiple, but maybe more importantly as a modular unit. I began collecting 12 ounce aluminum cans used for soda, carbonated drinks, etc. In 1997; but wasn’t exactly sure how I would use them. Michigan’s returnable rate is among the highest in the US at .10/can and after 3 years of collecting, I had amassed a little nest egg and close to 350 cans.
I was struggling to comprehend the finiteness of human life and the concept of eternity of the afterlife. Because of the uniform modularity of the cans I could fit them together flawlessly and create the infinity sign. With an endless supply of cans and the knowledge they would be recycled this seemed like a way I could finally wrap my head around eternity. At installation, I was four 12-paks short!
never OBSOLETE, 2001
In this tech landscape, digital devices, operating systems and apps need constant upgrading, with the unrelenting stream of new ideas creating seismic shifts. When the continual technological changes put the former into a state of obsolescence. As human beings we can become outmoded, irrelevant and older and not wiser. Give this state of obsolescence, never OBSOLETE might represent the afterlife of eternity.
There, 2001
Colorized stills from adult films
There is a place that most of us try to go. Desire, sexual expression and orgasm are very human responses. The French call it, “la petite mort” the little death.