Kumkum Nadig (India), Kathy Beal (USA), Palash Mukhopadhyay (India), Pallavi Agarwala (India), Pia Kaul (India), Radha Pande (India), Rashmi Kakde (India), Samira Gupta (India), Stephan Powilat (Germany), Mathias Vogel (Germany), Larry Danque (USA), Amy Wang (USA)
If Dreams Could Talk is a collaborative project that looks at the concepts of dreams and specifically the dissociated images and impressions that quickly fade upon waking.
The journey is the integral inspiration that propels my art. Traveling through the world, I look for the simple, unsophisticated, and organic details that define the beauty of human culture. I am always intrigued by the differing human elements and visual stimulation that I encounter.
Often the creative process is singular and individual, but when the work becomes collaborative, the resulting imagery becomes more than the sum of its parts. The artistic journey begins with a feeling or thought that is communicated between the collaborators until the work takes on its own personality. Finding the unexpected interplay between imagery, cultural similarities/differences, and personality is what drives me in this process. I continue to learn and explore the diversity of each element, letting the muse take me further on the creative journey.
As we race toward economic and technological advancement in our quest for globalization, we run the risk of sacrificing cultural diversity. My art reflects my desire to preserve the gentle balance between honoring cultural traditions and embracing the future and all that it brings. By combining art, culture, and technology in this way, I weave images and experiences into work that speaks to the diversity in the world. Making art grants access to worlds that may be sacred, forbidden, enchanting, or threatening. It allows us to see worlds that we may never fully engage otherwise.
Using common consumer electronics (iSight, iChat, FTP, computer and printer) the SIGGRAPH 2006 Guerilla Studio collaborated with Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology (K. Nadig, P. Mukhopadhyay, P. Agarwala, P. Kaul, R. Pande, R. Kakde, S. Gupta), Adobe Design and Achievement Award winners (S. Powilat, M. Vogel, A. Wang), and fellow Guerillas (K. Beal, L. Danque, P. Zimmerman) to create an edition of pigment prints and handmade books.
The working process began with collaborators uploading personal source material to a shared directory of images. Each artist chose an unfamiliar image to begin a new work of art. Each morning at 9:00 Boston time (7:30 pm in Bangalore), the teams connected via iSight to share artwork and discuss strategies for completing the project. On Saturday, the teams tested the internet connection. On Sunday, the reviewed the project and brainstormed ideas. Monday and Tuesday were dedicated to image creation. On Wednesday, the German collaborators designed the cover and interior. The book was printed overnight and then hand-assembled by a team of volunteers in the Guerilla Studio on Thursday morning.
The project served as a powerful connection across cultures. New communication technologies enable us to collaborate in ways never before imagined. By reaching beyond borders and time zones, we gain greater cultural awareness, which leads to a better understanding of the beautifully diverse world we live in.