FEATURE
1. A Diabolical History: Omnipotent Psychiatry, human violence, abuse and trauma
OTHER
2. Traumatised Eyes
3. Have You Ever Been to a Cock Fight?
1. Agnes Martin in Brain Maps
1. Words by Jenny, Sarah Tomasetti and others
A Diabolical history: Omnipotent Psychiatry. A story of human violence, trauma and abuse. I was thinking that this work would be published in the format of a children's picture story book, because psychiatrists tend to treat people like children. However, I am pretty chuffed with this video!!
Perspective of Difference: seeing life through my trauma lens,
feeling fear, knowing anxiety, sharing terror.
In preparing this Assessment Site, I have lived through a praxis show-case. I reacted to my supervisor Sarah's initial comments from the perspective of my 'Traumatised Eyes', I felt strong emotion, reminiscent of my mother's regular chastisement and I moved on too quickly, seeking other opinions. However, re-reading Sarah's series of emails responding to these works (originally in draft form) I see that she gave the same advise as David Homewood, these appropriated images work as a collection.
WARNING: This video contains reference to child sexual abuse.
Sarah and I had a further conversation about these works yesterday, 17th June, she suggested that her original reticence is grounded in her training. 'What is the thought that is your own to do with what ever I want and what is the thought that belongs to someone else.' Surmising in regard to another person's works, or life experience is more honourable than declaring.
My response to Sarah's comment is that many of the words in the brain maps are illegible, they come from an article by Olivia Laing, called The Artist who Disappeared into the Desert. On the Polyvagal Body below, the words are clear and in forming them I have attempted to surmise Agnes' trauma diagnosis in a perfect world ten or twenty years from now. I have read many articles about Dr Stephen Porges Polyvagal Theory, however, I drew on an image created by Canadian Eye Moment Desensitisation Therapist, Ayan Mukerjhee at this website address https://www.facebook.com/ayanmukherjeeRP/photos/a.838392199508851/2568784503136270/?type=1&theater
Jenny, you have produced a prolific amount of work this semester and have worked through your research and experimentations in ways that are testing your ideas through material outcomes. You have many possible avenues for taking the work forward, ranging from video and digital collage, installation, sound and sculpture. The combination of these media - such as sound and video - offer rich ways to develop your work. For example, including your own sound in your video works may add another layer for audiences to experience. The central thread running through your work is you and your lived experience and we encourage you to continue exploring how this manifests in the work. You may find some works in the Cunningham Dax Collection at The University of Melbourne of relevance to your project (though there are problems with the collection, its history and its framework ethically that we acknowledge). We look forward to seeing what you make in semester two. Well done!
Poster: Jenny Hickinbotham, Johanna River Farm, Painting with collage, 2020,