Artist Statement:
In direct response to the passive-prone prose of meditation, I build on stress into a storm within; a wave of physical exertion crashes in a calm.
Do you see
Can you see through me
From within
For this project, I felt the need to explore breathing, focus, and effort, all under the guise of meditation. In comparison, this is not a walk or a line map. This is a journey to place that is pain. This is a place to go through that and to fight on. This is also a revealing image of relief, that reflects presence.
I chose to use the bicycle as I was best able to exert myself there while blocking my vision with the camera and not crashing. I knew I needed my eyes, in the shot, looking around as I suffer, but I added the glasses to reflect my moment and provide further depth to the image. The sound was critical as well due to the wind and bike noise I needed, but what was critical was my breathing. That took further experimenting beyond the camera placement and the microphones.
My route was planned and tested as I hoped to be isolated and give the viewer an open beautiful space around me. I also chose mid-day as I want the view to be in the cave of my shadow with harsh light surrounding me. While the oppressive part is key, I also feel that being in the shade with one another provides a moment of shared refuge.
The mantra changed as I did runs up the high mountain pass, but this run and phrase felt best, so that was the rare change in plan that worked out.
I also curated the outfit not to grab attention as it reflects the sky with the blue top and brown shorts for the earth. Thought I did switch from a black helmet and black glasses as I felt the white helped with the viewer looking more around the image as I moved. Yet, they also seemed more natural in the frame too, as it helps not separate the body from the clouds and, in the end, connect with the rest of the outfit idea. I am just used to using black so as not to reflect in images.
The second camera was a concern as I was on the fence about seeing it as this was planned to be a single shot. I tried it both ways and went back to the other camera in the frame as it helps distort the viewers’ idea of where the camera is. It was also representative of others looking into your own space as you seek a meditative moment.
The aftermath of this shoot was sadly a trip to the hospital, as the efforts did bring me into an asthmatic episode. I shot this early on but have been recovering since. I had my rescue inhaler and am more than fine now. Yet I must give credit to myself and others in how we can push too far when finding place, finding peace, or finding feeling in a moment in space time.
Thank you for reading, and please look at my proposal for credit to my influences and the planning behind this project.
Thank you to anyone who looked at my work this semester.
Blog 
10 responses to “Final”
This was an interesting video! I like the title because it gives me good context about your project even after reading your artist statement. Meditation asphyxiation– it’s interesting because with meditation, often a strong focus will be around breathing exercises and here you’re exerting yourself to the fullest extend and really focusing on your breathing, yet I feel like most people would argue that this isn’t the type of breathing meditation is in association with, but that’s just what I like about what you’ve done in your video and how you’ve titled it. This was an intense breathing exercise and it seemed meditative while it was exhausting. I enjoyed it!
LikeLike
The title is smart, it gives context to the video while still leaving room for interpretation. I think that this is your strongest work of the semester. While I think your health and well-being is extremely important, I commend you for pushing yourself and committing to your idea. So much of performance art is half-assed which makes it appear poorly conceived as well as gimmicky. You have avoided all of that. You need to add a 5 second fade in from black and a 5 second fade out from black in your videos. This will help viewers orient themselves and provide a level of closure since there is no concrete resolution.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This was an exciting video. I have seen some like it before, but from the rider’s perspective looking forward. I see them getting close to the edge of cliffs, and honestly, they bring me so much anxiety. Seeing you close to the camera made me feel like I was in your way, which caused anxiety when watching your video specify. I was also trying to breathe for you in a way. This was an exciting approach to the concept, and props to you for going forward with your plan.
LikeLike
Hello! I think this is a very fascinating way to document this idea. I really like the way you spoke regarding the topic and allowed the viewer to know more about how this relates to your personal self and not just the idea in general.
LikeLike
I like the way you did the video, and it was interesting way of doing this project. I enjoy the way you talk about the different things you experience during your ride.
LikeLike
I am glad you are recovering outside of the hospital now.
Your project was successful in finding a place of suffering within the mind and body. By using your breath and chanting suffer, your work immediately became performative which challenged the boundaries of comfort for the audience. This is a powerful piece in evoking the emotions of suffer and worry. Great work.
LikeLike
This is great Joshua. Your work is always incredible but this takes the cake. I was transported into the scenario of asphyxiation and exhaustion that you were in. The proximity of the camera, the limitation of distractions with a forced focus, and the sound, all helped transport me, But I didn’t feel like I was a witness, nor that I was visually there, but instead I was somewhat (mentally) asphyxiated and traveling in my own meditative exhaustion. The success in transporting me as a viewer is awesome. On the health aspect, next time bring someone with you as during my project I suffered severe heat stroke in the middle of the desert, and luckily pushed myself enough to walk home and get help, but going solo is not the safest.
LikeLike
This is such a creative approach, especially video-wise. The conversation between your heavy breathing and the beautiful scenery is interesting. When focusing on you, I could only imagine how tired or hot you must have been. Whereas the scenery behind you was lovely, I became anxious for you. Great Work!
LikeLike
This was the perfect way to involve your body in this project! The act of breathing is innate and lets us know our body is functioning properly, but is also an example of closeness and intensity. You need to be close to hear someone’s breath and the camera angle emphasizes this feeling. Your artist statement helped elevate your video’s idea, and I loved how poetic it was. Great video and I think you should continue this style of video work!
LikeLike
It’s very cool to see this perspective! I am glad you made a video, and also really happy to hear you are recovering! I really liked the intensity of your project.
LikeLike