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Insomnia
1997-2003
Much of my work over
the last few years has
had to do with
insomnia or with the
fears (of guns, of
tornadoes, of
isolation) which
contribute to
insomniac
musings. The
condition of insomnia
is in opposition to
the state of
dreaming—or insomnia
at least precludes
dreaming—yet the
outcome of prolonged
lack of sleep is a
dreamlike state.
My sculptures and
installations use
repetitive acts or
actions (often
resulting in the
making of a multitude
of similar objects)
and images and linking
them to a particular
psychological state.
For my work titled
“Insomnia,” I used
sugar and egg whites
to make hundreds of
“subtleties” (named
after the edible
confectionery displays
served between courses
at royal banquets in
the 15th
century). These
miniature sculptures
are grouped and
combined with film and
video to make
installations. A
sweet scent emanating
from them marks time
as it fades. The
sculptures are also
used as props for
animated film loops
and dreamlike
photographs in which
the sculptures
function as
apparitional presences
in figmental
landscapes and
interiors. The
ongoing processes of
this work refer to
insomnia; thoughts
spin continually and
uncontrollably and
sleep is unobtainable.
Throughout the work
exist allusions to the
culture and landscape
of the American
Midwest where I grew
up: photographs and
film loops depict
tornadoes, guns made
of sugar or porcelain
are encased in
candy-colored cases,
and photographs and
videos of empty rooms
are combined with
scenes of empty malls,
hotel rooms, and big
skies.
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